Thursday, 22 October 2015

Las Cocas and Quilvio Cabera Wind Farms


Las Cocas and Quilvio Cabera Wind Farms

 

In a very surprising development, Dominican Republic has announced plans to set up wind turbines, the first such initiative in Caribbean islands. Built with a budget of US$100 million, it is estimated that country’s imports of oil will be reduced by 700,000 barrels a year, which in turn saves US$20 million, as well as reducing CO2 emissions by 1,700 tonnes. A 33MW plant has already been opened in 2011.

During the construction process, the main challenges faced were connecting the wind farm to the existing grid. “The southwestern part of the Dominican Republic is sparsely populated, however, and there are no transmission lines in the vicinity of Los Cocos. Some have posed greater problems than others, and some land permits are still pending. Siting installations far from existing infrastructure clearly presents issues beyond just the cost of connecting to the grid.” (blogs.worldwatch) The company has solved these by paying for building new transmission lines. Also locales have been educated about the benefits of using renewable energy.

Sunday, 27 September 2015

IceLink


IceLink
 

We all know of schemes involving integration of national grids of many countries. But, have you ever heard of one connecting in the sea? IceLink Project, which is yet to be given the green signal, aims to cover more than 1,000 kilometres to provide renewable energy to UK. Almost 75% of alternative energy in Iceland comes from hydropower while the rest from geothermal. “Iceland enjoys the cheapest electricity prices in Europe thanks to abundant geothermal energy, wind and especially hydropower from glacial meltwater. The industry generates more than 12 gigawatt hours of electricity, about five times the demand from Iceland’s 325,000 population.” (Hebehappy)

England could exploit these potential, as experts estimate that Iceland could provide 5 terra-watt hours per year, at a cost 15% cheaper than UK’s offshore wind projects. The bigger implication of this project is the rising importance of under-sea cables as well as providing renewable power to rest of Europe. It is also expected to offer flexibility options to UK’s energy policy.

Friday, 4 September 2015

Buenos Aires Bus Rapid Transit Corridor

Buenos Aires Bus Rapid Transit Corridor

Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires is seen as a major economic center in the future, which will also serve as a balance to Brazil’s growing economic clout in the region. To aid in its development comes the Bus Rapid Transit Corridor, a first of its kind project in Argentina, built at an estimated cost of $ 25 million, though the budget was exceeded. According to Guillermo Dietrich, the city’s undersecretary for transport, travel time is down for buses by 50 percent, for minibuses (private buses that make fewer stops) by 45 percent, and for cars by 20 percent.

Some features of the buses involved in the system include spacious, well-lighted shelters that have seats and a Wi-Fi connection, easy boarding and information providing screens. A major accomplishment of this project was that it reduced traffic on the most important city of the street: 9 de Julio Avenue. Experts say that more than 200,000 citizens prefer the bus when their route is the avenue; it also has reduced CO2 emissions by more than 5,000 tons per year. With continued benefits, this bus transport scheme can really help Buenos Aires to revamp its image.

Thursday, 27 August 2015

Myanmar Telecommunication Network

Myanmar Telecommunication Network

One of Asia’s least developed nations, at least according to telecommunications and economy, will be open to foreign investments and given subsidies as well as liberal policies.
Asia’s least developed telecommunications market is about to take off thanks to foreign investment and liberalized policies. It is surprising to see that in such a world where almost everyone has a smart-phone, only 12.3% of Myanmar’s citizens have a basic mobile. The country can thank its military junta leaders, with their conservative mind-set for that.
But, all that is about to change. International countries such as Ooredoo, Telenor, NEC, NTT and Sumitomo etc. have been granted licenses to operate there. Though, definitely, it will take time to create a basic infrastructure, yet mobile subscribers rate is expected to grow at 30% to reach more than 32 million by end of this decade. This will ensure the mobile penetration rate is more than 50%.

An analyst said “A properly functioning telecoms network will spur innovation in other critical industries, such as education, healthcare and finance, and contribute to overall socio-economic development.”

Saturday, 22 August 2015

Bouregreg Valley Development Project

Bouregreg Valley Development Project


Keeping in mind environmental principles, the Bouregreg Valley development is split into 6 complementary phases notably. Right now, only the first two phases are initiated. The first phase aims to be a major entertainment centre in the world and will cost 7 billion dirhams. Covering an area of 30 hectares, it includes hotels, cafes, residential homes, amusement parks, urban rail transport such as tram. The second phase is a bridge which consists of a pedestrian/cycling platform, tram lines and a viaduct. The other phases include more access roads and a marina project along the coastline. They also include “new neighbourhoods for professional and residential use, as well as public amenities and spaces. It will also preserve cultivated land, create natural ecological spaces, carry out reforestation activities and restore water courses that represent a risk of causing gully erosion and landslides. Furthermore, it will deliver effective urban continuity between the two towns and improve road infrastructure, links, and traffic flow between the cities of Rabat and SalĂ©.” (Ufmsecretariat) 

Tuesday, 18 August 2015

Moscow-Kazan High Speed Rail

Moscow-Kazan High Speed Rail

Any project connecting the capital of one of the world’s most important country and the nation’s new & developing economic hub is a very prestigious one. Such a project is the Moscow-Kazan High Speed Rail. Announced by Russian President Putin in 2013, this rail project covers 770 kilometres and is most likely to be completed in 2018. Considered by many as the first “real” high speed rail project of Russia, it is expected to reduce travel time between Moscow and Kazan by rail by more than 9 hours as well as run 400 kilometres per hour.

It is expected to increase mobility of the citizens of these two metropolitan cities as well as providing jobs to many. It is expected to be designed by a consortium of three companies, two Russian and 1 Chinese for a total cost of 20.8 billion rubles ($383 million) over the next two years. The actual construction will be at a cost of 1.06 trillion rubles ($19.5 billion). This project is also an example of export of high speed rail to other countries from China.

Monday, 17 August 2015

Recife Metropolitan Region Sewage Treatment Project

Recife Metropolitan Region Sewage Treatment Project

In a developing country, there is bound to be lots of waste & sewage uncleaned, treated improperly & unprocessed. Keeping this mind, Brazil has initiated a massive sewage treatment project for the region of Recife, which will serve 15 cities. It aims to collect and treat 90% of the sewage produced in that region, and in a record 12 years. It is also expected to receive more than US$ 2.25 billion for investments.

There will be a drastic impact on the businesses and commerce underway in the region and will also increase employment there, especially in contracts, engineering, service, maintenance, machinery, equipment etc. It will serve more than 3.5 million citizens. The project is being done by a consortium led by a Brazilian firm. 

Libra Oil Field

Libra Oil Field

The Libra Oil Field is expected to bring many benefits to Brazilian economy. It is a deep-water oil project, located in Santos Basin, about 230 kilometres from Rio de Janeiro. It is one of the largest oil field discovery in the recent times.  “The property is estimated to contain reserves ranging from 8 billion to 12 billion barrels of oil. President Rousseff has claimed that the project would generate 1 trillion Brazilian reals (about $460 billion) over the next 35 years, with almost 75 percent of that amount to be spent on health and education. She added that "85 percent of all the income to be produced in the Libra field will belong to the Brazilian state and Petrobras. This is very different [from] privatization.” (Ibtimes)
It is said that it is a very new model of privatizing where the Brazilian government would be getting $1 billion and would also be obtaining more than 60% of the oilfield’s output. It will also be a game-changer in the energy field as the market is now slowly moving towards Latin America, than the Middle East.


Thursday, 13 August 2015

UHV Transmission Project

UHV Transmission Project

As China rapidly expands as a major economic power in the world, its residents and industries remain as power-hungry as ever. “China’s state-owned grid operators have planned massive investments into new transmission technology to generate more efficient electricity. The UHV Power Transmission Project will see the State Grid Corporation of China spend more than US$160 billion between 2013 and 2021 building eight ultra-high voltage transmission lines across the country. This new technology reduces the amount of electricity lost when transmitted over long distances, enabling power stations to be situated closer to coal resources and away from cities.” (KPMG)
Already there are 7 UHV lines in operation, the most in any country in the world, carrying 1,000,000 volts covering thousands of kilometres. This will also be an important initiative to reduce their carbon emissions. It will be also a way to integrate their other sources of energy such as solar, wind etc. and reduce their dependence on imported fuel. But not everything is successful & prosperous from outside. Such inter-connectivity can also lead to large-scale power disruptions.


Atlai Gas Pipeline

Altai Gas Pipeline

Extending from Western Siberia to North-West China, the proposed Altai Gas Pipeline will bring in much benefits in both countries. Expected to transmit 30 billion cubic metres per year, this pipeline covers 2,800 kilometres. Though it has some environmental concerns, the final boons of this project is expected to outweigh its banes.

This project also hangs a question mark on Pacific liquid natural gas (LNG) projects, and diversifies Russia’s export options at a time of strained relations with the US and European Union. The 30-year, US$400 billion deal will see state gas company Gazprom deliver Russian gas to China National Petroleum Corporation (KPMC).

Alaska LNG Project

Alaska LNG Project

“The Alaska LNG Project is a proposed $45 to $65 billion liquefied natural gas export project – it would be the largest single investment in Alaska history. The project has the potential to create between 9,000 and 15,000 jobs during the design and construction phases; plus approximately 1,000 jobs for continued operations. In addition to generating billions of dollars in revenue for Alaska, the project will provide access to natural gas for Alaskans.” (Ak-lng).


Tuesday, 11 August 2015

Pearl River Mega City

Pearl River Mega City

China has repeatedly created some of the world’s biggest infrastructural wonders in recent times(we have already discussed some in this blog). But, perhaps this project might eclipse each of them in sheer size & ambition. The Pearl River Mega City aims to combine 9 cities to create the world’s largest megacity, which would be home to 42 million, located in the fertile Pearl River delta(which is incidentally the world’s largest delta area in size & population).
“Over the next six years, around 150 major infrastructure projects will mesh the transport, energy, water and telecommunications networks of the nine cities together, at a cost of some 2 trillion yuan (£190 billion). An express rail line will also connect the hub with nearby Hong Kong.” (Telegraph)

The main advantage, I would say, from this project is the integration of basic amenities such as education, healthcare, transport, energy, water, communication etc. More jobs would be created and industries supported in this region. This is seen as an important initiative to remove the growing clout of Beijing and Shanghai as major economic centres. More than US $300 billion will be invested here.

New York Resiliency Plan

New York Resiliency Plan

New York, “The City That Never Sleeps”, is a dream city for many. Considered as one of the world’s greatest city, it definitely need a plan to protect it from environmental/natural disasters such as storms, rising sea levels and climate change.
The Resiliency Plan  puts forward initiatives to strengthen coastal defences, upgrade buildings and construction standards, protect infrastructure, such as the power grid and waste water system, and make vulnerable neighbourhoods safer. The plan includes 257 short, medium, and long-term initiatives.
The main aim of this project is “focused on resilience of buildings and power infrastructure during future coastal storms – the city will be able to prevent economic losses of more than US$ 22 billion by the 2050s, according to current estimates.” (c40.org)


Friday, 31 July 2015

Sao Paulo Metro

Sao Paulo Metro
One of the biggest rail infrastructure project underway is the expansion of Sao Paulo Metro, currently its Line 6. The Sao Paulo Metro is the second largest in South America, serves 65 stations and covers more than 70 kilometres. Line 6 especially will cover 15 stations, stretching more than 15 stations. It is an important example of public-private partnership model, as private companies have participated in its construction from its inception.

This metro project is very important to alleviate the traffic burden on other forms if transport. “In 2002 about 7.4 million journeys on public transport and 8 million car journeys took place in SĂŁo Paulo. Then, the number of journeys by car represented 53 per cent of the daily total of motorised journeys in the Metropolitan Region, an increase from 48 per cent in 1997.” (Lsecities) Hence, with the development of Line 4 and integration of all subway, commuter and bus networks, it has helped to improve transportation for more than 600,000 residents. It has helped an increase in public participation of public transport. With all lines operational by 2020, Sao Paulo could be a major economic player in the future.

Sochi Olympic Park

Sochi Olympics Park

One of the most successful Winter Olympics and Paralympics Games was held last year in Sochi, Russia. Housing the main Olympics site for sports, it also consists of training facilities, the Olympic Village, the international broadcasting centre, and other amenities. The park was designed so that all of the venues would be accessible within walking distance of each other.

Now, the park has started hosting other important sporting events such as Ice Skating Grand Prix, World Chess Championship, Ice Hockey events etc. Now, it is expected to hold matches of the FIFA Confederation Cup (2017), Formula Grand Prix and FIFA World Cup(2018). “Currently, Sochi attracts 4 million tourists per year. Before the Olympics, just 1 percent came from abroad.” (RussiaToday). The facilities which are introduced for the Games can be used for many years by citizens of Sochi(which in turn could lead it to be one of the most important economic centre in Russia). Businesses such as hotel, restaurant, retail shops etc. see a massive jump in their revenues. 

Monday, 27 July 2015

Moscow Central Ring Road

Moscow Central Ring Road

The disintegration of USSR had let Russia to be considered a “developed country”, but still without any major infrastructural project in its name. This might soon change with the completion of Moscow Central Ring Road by 2018. Expected to encircle Moscow and cover 521 kilometres, 4-8 lines and with a maximum speed of 150 kmph, the Central Ring Road will boost Moscow’s image.

It will easily deal with Moscow’s ever-growing traffic. It will also reduce traffic congestion on Moscow Ring Road, the premier expressway in the city. “The new Central Ring Road will be equipped with road traffic automated control systems with weather stations and landing sites for air ambulance and rescue services’ helicopters. There are also plans for installation of noise barriers close to settlements. During the building of the road environmental issues are expected to be also taken into account, through the building of a system of storm water drainage and special crossings for animals. It is planned that The Federal Road Agency (Rosavtodor) will be responsible for the implementation of the project and will manage it.” (Worldhighways.com) Since it is built on a PPP model, it will be expensive to use it. 

Beijing Daxing International Airport

Beijing Daxing International Airport

With this century seen as “Asian Century”, China is expected to play a very important role. And its investing heavily into improving its infrastructure. Its capital Beijing is getting revamped. With an additional airport planned, Beijing can serve as an axis around which China and her allies can revolve.
Though the airport is located 46 kilometres away from the city, it is necessary to remove the burden on the existing airport. The second airport is also expected to be well-accessible by connecting with High Speed Rail (HSR), metro, expressways and bus networks. “The new airport is expected to serve the regions of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei. The airport will cover an area of 2,680 hectares (6,600 acres). The projected completion date for the new airport is October 2018


Thursday, 23 July 2015

Yangshan Deepwater Port

Yangshan Deepwater Port

An upcoming water infrastructure project in China, the Yangshan Deepwater Port is connected to the world’s busiest port, the Shanghai Port. One of the main reason why the latter has helped China to become the world’s largest trader(and also the reason why many of the products you buy is Made in China) is Yangshan Port which has the capacity to harbour the world’s largest containers and can hold 12 million containers.
There is another interesting factor that the bridge connecting the port to the Donghai Bridge is the world’s longest sea bridge. This project has been developed as part of China’s economic reforms. It is the first “free-port” of the country. The following are the advantages from a Chinese website, Shinlang.com:
Advantage 1: -15 m water depth with the building of ports and waterways before. Yangshan Sea tide strong, not easy to drop sediment deposition, coastal waters, seabed and the basic stability of the past century.
Advantage 2: to ensure the ship's navigation and berthing safety. Port engineering solutions through the model test has repeatedly demonstrated that implementation of the project, after basically no impact on the natural conditions, can maintain the original water depth, and the size of the Yangshan Island chain, forming a natural barrier to mooring in good conditions.
Advantage 3: Engineering technical and economic feasibility. Engineering geological conditions of the waters of good and suitable for constructing the Hong Kong conditions; In addition, the building of long-distance cross-sea bridge in the world is also a precedent.

Advantage 4: Meet the world's law of development of the port out to sea. According to reports, the Yangshan Deepwater Port Area Master Plan to 2012 can be formed more than 10 kilometres deep-water coastline, arranged more than 30 berths, through capacity-more than 15 million standard containers. The works will include a port project, the East China Sea Bridge, the Luchaogang auxiliary supporting projects such as three parts.

Tuesday, 21 July 2015

South American Transcontinental Railway Road

South American Transcontinental Railway Road

A major South American infrastructure deal is in the works as China’s prime minister tours the region this week. Beijing is hoping to back and build an ambitious interoceanic railway between Brazil and Peru that could make for faster, cheaper transportation of local commodities to resource-thirsty Chinese markets. The proposed rail link, known as the Twin Ocean Railroad, would connect Porto do Açu, a Brazilian Atlantic port, with Peru’s Puerto Ilo on the Pacific Ocean through some 3,300 miles (5,300 km) of rail. The railway is expected to cut transportation time and reduce the cost of shipping grain from Brazil to China by about $30 a ton.
The rail line is estimated to cost $10 billion and reach completion in six years; around 2,000 miles of it will run through Brazil. There are high financial hopes for the deal. China, currently facing an economic slowdown, would be able to access raw materials more efficiently and at a lower cost if the railway is successfully completed. It could also be a major boost to Latin America’s sluggish economies. High-speed rail could help get products to the Pacific, which is a growing destination for Latin American exports, but it could also facilitate trade among Latin American countries themselves.

Sao Francisco River Integration Project

Sao Francisco River Integration Project
With an aim of pumping water in all arid areas of Brazil, the integration project on Sao Francisco River, one of Brazil’s longest river, is a marvel for infrastructure lovers. It is already described as the largest water infrastructure project undertaken by the Brazilian government. “The project consists of a system of open air concrete canals that will take the waters of SĂŁo Francisco river – whose course will not be deviated – to big dams already existing in the semiarid area”- (Basilio)

This project will benefit more than 12 million people. The main uses of this project are 70% for irrigation, 25% for industrial use and 5% for domestic use. 

Thursday, 16 July 2015

Morar Carioca Sustainable Community Program

Morar Carioca Sustainable Community Program

One of the largest infrastructure project in Brazil to upgrade slums of Rio de Janeiro, the Morar Carioca Sustainable Community Program will definitely lift Brazil’s candidacy for a superpower status. Surveys prove that more than 20% of the city’s population live in slums. “The majority of these lack adequate sanitation or building standards, leading to water pollution, soil degradation, methane emissions from waste, as well as a host of other social, health and safety issues for residents.”(C40) And it is the function of this program to eliminate these problems.

This project will help more than 200,000 residents of Rio de Janeiro. There is also a special focus on eco-solutions and reducing carbon print. The main aim of this project is also on sustainable development. 

Wednesday, 15 July 2015

Kazan Smart City

Kazan Smart City
A massive urban infrastructure, similar to Modi’s Smart City mission is India, the Kazan Smart City will greatly expand roads in education, healthcare, technology, business and tourism. Located in Kazan, it will boost Russia’ status of a nation, welcoming to foreign investment and creating special economic zones. The aim of this project is to build smart, socially attractive modern city that will stimulate the economic development of the entire region of Tatarstan. Kazan is Russia’s 8th biggest city and is a new site for IT firms and BPO businesses.
The site is said to be spread over 650 acres. It is well accessible by the international airport near it. “The first stage of building out the infrastructure and accommodation should be completed by 2015, and a total of $10bn will be INVESTED by 2020 to complete the city, if everything goes according to plan. There are three main areas: an education complex, a business complex at the heart of the city, and the high-tech park in the southern part of the city. And 16 plots have already been taken.” (Bne)


Wednesday, 8 July 2015

Narmada Canal Solar Project

Narmada Canal Solar Project

Utilizing the 19,000 km network of Narmada canals across Gujarat for generating solar power, the Narmada Canal Solar Project launched in 2012, is said to be one-of-a-kind project in India. It was commissioned within just 1,000 days of its inauguration. It will generate 1.6 million units of electricity per year. The following are the advantages proclaimed by the government:
·         The panels are built over the canal to ensure that around 9 million litres of water does not evaporate.
·         According to the government the entire length of SSNL canal network in Gujarat is around 19,000 km and even if 10 per cent of it is used for this type of projects it could generate 2,400 MW of clean energy annually.
·         The project will eliminate the need of 11,000 acres of land required for a solar project of this magnitude and save 2 billion litres of water annually.
·         It has the potential to bring down per unit cost of clean energy from solar panels to between RS 8 to RS 8.50 in future.


This is a great initiative for India. It’s a prime example of an infrastructural project which focuses on eco-friendliness. 

Interceptor Sewer System

Interceptor Sewer System

The Interceptor Sewer System, aiming to intercept or connect three of Delhi’s posh areas’ drains Najafgarh, Shahdara and Supplementary, is expected to reduce pollution levels on river Yamuna drastically in Delhi. It is expected to reduce 40 parts per million (ppm) at present to about 12 ppm in water.

Only treated effluent will be processed here; untreated effluent will be processed at the main Sewage Treatment Plant. It is believed to help more than 70% of Delhi’s population and the tourism industry in Delhi. 

Mundra Ultra Mega Power Plant

Mundra Ultra Mega Power Plant

A coal powered plant, the Mundra Ultra Mega Power Plant, built by Tata Power is expected to provide 4000MW in total. The coal is imported from Indonesia and the water from the Gulf of Kutch. This is seen as a great initiative to increase private participation in the sector. It is expected to provide power to Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra in western India and Haryana and Punjab in northern India. It is expected to cater to the needs of more than 15 million citizens. It also helps to increase competitiveness among the manufacturing & services industries in these regions. The technology used for this plant is said to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and saves fuel from conventional sources of energy.
This project also will create 800 jobs and increase India’s power generation capacity by 2%. It is said to be an efficient project as it was completed well in time. “The plant is more efficient than any other subcritical power plant in India, and will avoid discharging 3.2 million tons of CO2 emissions every year, which otherwise would be produced when using conventional sub-critical technology. This is the first time that 800 MW supercritical technology has been successfully implemented in India.” (Ifc)


Delhi Metro

Delhi Metro

After long demands of solving traffic & infrastructural problems, a rapid transit system has been placed in Delhi, the “Delhi Metro”. There is no need to explain why the capital needs a metro: increasing population, traffic, pollution etc. Only the Delhi Metro could solve such problems and save residents’ time, energy, and resources. There is also the added advantage of convenience, an individual can reach time on time without delay.
But there are might be some disadvantages: noise coming from the train itself and from the crowd; overcrowding – There are lots of people who ride the subway, and if you are claustrophobic, riding the metro is not definitely for you and rise in crime – sometimes mugging and physical assaults when riding the metro above and below ground is rampant in a lot of areas which makes it scary. (Thetransportationgazette)

Also, it gives the much-needed up gradation of the city of Delhi from a modest, historical, cultural town to a modernized, stylish metropolis, catering to the youth population. This rail system can reimage “Delhi Brand”. 

Yamuna Expressway

Yamuna Expressway

A 165m long, 6-lane expressway connecting two important cities of India, Noida and Agra, the Yamuna Expressway is proving to be indispensable in its function. It is actually one of the quickest project to be completed in India (two years before its target).
Its greatest advantage is its reduction of time of travel to 90-120 minutes. It has increased accessibility to the capital of the country, Delhi. It has led to a residential boom with an estimate of more than 20,000 plots to be constructed.  It also has led to development of underlying areas there. It also benefits the tourism industry, with an increase in frequency of visits to the Taj Mahal. (Not to forget the fact of Jaypee Raceway Course) “Substantial investments have been planned for residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and recreational developments on the vast tracts of land on either sides of the Expressway, some of which are already under way, which should catapult the region into the next pedestal of development and growth.” (Yamunaeay)

Other benefits include decongestion, reduction in traffic and pollution, integration with national security systems, facilities along the expressway etc. 

Gujarat International Finance Tec-City

Gujarat International Finance Tec-City

One of the smart city, proposed by PM Narendra Modi, under construction, the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City can challenge Mumbai as the country’s premier financial centre when finished. Aimed to provide high quality facilities such as water & sanitation, power, roads, telecommunications etc., it will also have a special economic centre (SEZ), information centre, entertainment centre and a knowledge capital. There are financial incentives given to businesses starting operations here such as exemption of sales, customs, purchase, excise taxes etc.
There are other advantages: this city would not be so integrated with other global economic capitals of other countries; so it cannot be affected by financial crunches. It can provide more than 500,000 jobs and occupies an area of 5.76 million sq. m. Thus, it can also create a real estate boom.  “Given its emphasis on technology, zoning and environment-friendly construction, GIFT can also serve as the prototype on which the promised smart cities of the future can be modelled.” (The Hindu)

For the common man, it can create jobs in various sectors especially in finance. It will open many major administrative reforms and will be the first “Smart City” in India

Thursday, 30 April 2015

Maglev Train System and its success

Etihad Railway

Built & operated by one of the world’s most luxurious airlines, the Etihad Railway is one of the great initiatives to look out for this year. Its extensive network while cover 5 GCC countries at present, adds many benefits to the region where construction & implementation of infrastructure projects is at an all-time high.
There are numerous advantages brought about by Etihad Rail. The economic benefits by Etihad Rail include freight cost savings, business travel time savings, along with other economic remunerations. Businesses and MNCs, known for “finding the needle in the haystack”, are always looking for regions to invest in. They would be very delighted by these economic benefits. They would also be brought together to work closely by this initiative: more trade in bulk volume. Not to forget is the project’s worth in supplementing UAE economy by contributing to the tourism industry.
Research has shown that the economic benefits will bring are shared across all seven Emirates. It will bring in much needed foreign investment. It will also provide employment by creating thousands of jobs. It will provide transportation facilities by both freight and passenger. Its most important advantages of this rail are environmental-friendly transit, reduced use of highways and decrease in pollutant emission.
“Studies show that trains are one of the most environmentally friendly modes of transport. Based on forecasted traffic volumes, the Etihad Rail network will reduce greenhouse gases by more than 2.2 million tonnes annually – the equivalent of removing 375,000 vehicles off the roads or planting 52 million trees. One fully loaded train produces 70-80% less CO2 emissions than the equivalent trucks required”
-Etihadrail.ae




Friday, 17 April 2015

Etihad Railway

Etihad Railway

Built & operated by one of the world’s most luxurious airlines, the Etihad Railway is one of the great initiatives to look out for this year. Its extensive network while cover 5 GCC countries at present, adds many benefits to the region where construction & implementation of infrastructure projects is at an all-time high.
There are numerous advantages brought about by Etihad Rail. The economic benefits by Etihad Rail include freight cost savings, business travel time savings, along with other economic remunerations. Businesses and MNCs, known for “finding the needle in the haystack”, are always looking for regions to invest in. They would be very delighted by these economic benefits. They would also be brought together to work closely by this initiative: more trade in bulk volume. Not to forget is the project’s worth in supplementing UAE economy by contributing to the tourism industry.
Research has shown that the economic benefits will bring are shared across all seven Emirates. It will bring in much needed foreign investment. It will also provide employment by creating thousands of jobs. It will provide transportation facilities by both freight and passenger. Its most important advantages of this rail are environmental-friendly transit, reduced use of highways and decrease in pollutant emission.
“Studies show that trains are one of the most environmentally friendly modes of transport. Based on forecasted traffic volumes, the Etihad Rail network will reduce greenhouse gases by more than 2.2 million tonnes annually – the equivalent of removing 375,000 vehicles off the roads or planting 52 million trees. One fully loaded train produces 70-80% less CO2 emissions than the equivalent trucks required”
-Etihadrail.ae



Thursday, 2 April 2015

California High Speed Rail

California High Speed Rail


A rail transit system, under construction for many years; one of the most controversial infrastructure project ever; a project panned by environmentalists, economists, politicians and voters alike. But, all of them are overlooking the many advantages of this high speed rail system.
Any intra-national project has always a high probability of success; look at the example pf Chinese HSR. An everyday commuter would tell you the difference made by even a medium-speed rail service. Highways and other road construction projects haven’t alleviated California’s congestion problems. The only solution is the California HSR.
It creates millions of jobs, by building the rail infrastructure and rail cars. Pt helps to reduce America’s trade deficit, (set to give $19 billion by new businesses) when it starts operations. It also reduces our oil consumptions, oil reductions and emissions. There might be even implications that it ends “oil wars” and lower US’s dependence on costly military operations. It provides a hassle-free, comfortable and accessible way to travel. During the rush hour, it is said to occupy 20,000 people compared to 8,000 in roads.
Obviously, as seen from above, the advantages overcome its de-merits.

"Dollars spent that get Americans out of cars will ease traffic, save money, reduce pollution, slow global warming, and make us less vulnerable to volatile oil oligarchs."  -Bloomberg

This could be prevented only by implementing this mega infrastructure project.

Thursday, 5 March 2015

Focus on Infrastructure in India’s Union Budget 2015

Focus on Infrastructure in India’s Union Budget 2015


In his budget speech, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said "Major slippage in the last decade has been in the infrastructure sector. Infrastructure sector will increase by Rs 70,000 crore.” By the looks of it the Indian government plans to have a large scale push in the infrastructure sector, which has seen policy paralysis.

Infrastructure is one of the main challenges faced by Narendra Modi’s government. The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model has to be reinforced by this government. The Union Budget has proposed a 'plug-and-play' model for big-ticket infrastructure projects such as power plants, airports and roads, and I fully agree with this model.
"This should unlock investments to the extent of Rs 1 lakh crore," Jaitley said, adding that the government will consider plug-and-play model for other projects such as roads, ports, rail lines and airports as well. I think the government’s ideas on plug-and-play model is aligned with long-term industry demand and will help the government attract foreign and domestic investments into much-needed infrastructure projects as it will significantly cut down project implementation time.

The inadequacy of quality infrastructure at globally competitive prices has long been recognized as a handicap to the development of the economy. Given the focus of the government on Make-In-India to create mass manufacturing for job creation, it was imperative for the Budget to address issues that constrain the infrastructure sector and pursue reforms with rigour. Broadly, the key measures announced in the Budget provide a renewed impetus to the INVESTMENT cycle and infrastructure sector in the country.

A few measures include creation of a National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) with annual inflows of Rs 20,000 crore which would make funds available to firms for new projects, corporatisation of ports, revisiting the PPP framework and the announcement of five new UMPPs.


Friday, 27 February 2015

Marketplace Model

Marketplace Model

“The future lies in the hybrid marketplace-led model where the seller is also selling his own labels as well as provides a platform for merchants and sellers to sell their products. If a seller has to make available large merchandise to his buyers, it has to adopt a marketplace-led model. The real use of internet would be if the small merchandisers get a chance to sell their products to a wider range of audience,” said Vivek Gaur, CEO, Yepme.com

Flipkart had based its business model on Amazon when it was launched in 2007. But, now it has completely changed its business model last year. Inspired by Alibaba, it now claims that reason was due to the Indian market, where customers and income levels are quite similar to that of China. What does this really mean?

It means that the product or service is provided by multiple third parties, whereas transactions are processed by the marketplace operator. Transparency is ensured by applying the same set of rules to all participants, and because buyers and sellers know who they are dealing with. Trust is provided by features such as buyer and seller ratings, reviews, and integrity / guarantee of payment.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of marketplace model?

Advantages:

  1. ·        It can sell a large number of stock keeping units (SKU) without maintaining any inventory
  2. ·        Operational efficiency improve as some overheads are transferred to the seller
  3. ·        Being a marketplace provider allows you to focus on developing eCommerce technologies

Disadvantages:

  1. ·        It is much tougher to implement product quality control in a marketplace model, as the seller is primarily responsible for the products
  2. ·        With a multitude of sellers, brand salience is one of the first things to get hit in the marketplace model



Monday, 23 February 2015

Online Commerce in India-Part 2

Online Commerce in India- Part 2

In the first part, I had discussed problems facing Indian commerce industry. Now, let me look at its solutions.
The solutions:

Segmentation: It's critically important. Not all consumers should be treated the same — they're all different in value. Even the most basic forms of segmentation, can produce good results. The simplest, most-effective form of segmentation involves dividing customers up into first-time users, high-value active customers (who drive 80 percent of profits), and inactive-users. If you take first-time users through the "tunnel of love" in the first 30 days, they're likely to become active customers.

Listen and Serve: Think and act like a concierge at a hotel. Listening to your customers and providing proper service may help resolve any privacy breach. Give customers the ability to tell you what they want. Remind them about deals and promotions — if they've asked that information.

One Chance: Everyone has forgotten the power of opportunity: You only have one chance to get it right, so be right from the beginning. I recommend a microscopic examination of details such as when customers are most likely to buy. For example, don't try to market apparel in July, when consumers are more inclined to spend toward travel, not clothing. With sophisticated tools, marketers can identify the specific day that a deal or promotion might have the most impact.

Personalization: Personalization, while a challenge, if addressed well can be a huge differentiator in how the customer experience is shaped in the online world. Utilize intelligent tools like web analytics, study customer behavior online, reward and reach out to customers. The more personalization you can out into your web-store, the more the customers will love you.

Make Your Site Navigable: Customers sometimes tend to get lost in your site. Provide proper navigation in your site to make things easier for your customers. Try to make your e-commerce site properly structured.

Choosing e-commerce solution: It is better to do some research based on your specific needs. Read the feature lists, try demos, and get reviews from who know better about this. It is always better to choose something that has large community as it will offer help, tutorials, sample codes, third party plug-ins, themes, and security auditing, which will help you in enhancing the productivity for your e-commerce web-store.

Delivered Duties Paid: E-marketers pay duties and taxes for what they sell. It is better to sell products internationally on an all-inclusive price basis and hassle free services though all international courier facilities. Product registration and reduction is shipping cost is another good solution.

Shipping: It is better to deliver in bulk in one go to a single hub and distribute based on domestic shipping charges. This is called regionalization.

Product Return and Refund: Make sure that all product descriptions are up-to-date and relevant. Also ensure that the products you deliver are procured from certified vendors.

Multiple Payment Options: Be open for all payment gateways, start entertaining e-Wallets, prepaid cards etc. which will offer better cash flow and relieve customers from credit card problems.

Focus on Customer Service: Online users want fast response to their query. So start interacting with them through 24X7 emails, calls, and chat assistance. Make your customers interact with you through all possible means like social media marketing etc. Keep reminding them about deals and promotions that you are offering and try to know what they think about them.


Thursday, 19 February 2015

Revival of the Silk Route

Revival of the Silk Route

The ancient silk route is one of the world’ best travel route, whether it is by road or by maritime. In the past it had facilitated goods, cultures, religions, intellectual ideas, important inventions etc. Though right now it is not important to spread these ideas by travelling across vast areas of land, due to the advent of Internet, I still think it is important to revive the silk route.

In the contemporary world, which is full of belligerent nations ready to go to war, the Silk Route would foster new ties of friendships across the countries which it spans. It will also connect the newly emerging superpower China with Eastern Europe. It will bring in much needed investment from western countries to create new special economic zones along the Silk Route.  

Friday, 30 January 2015

Online Commerce in India-Part 1

Online Commerce in India

Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal etc. are common household names in India at present. Online commerce is now one of India ‘biggest growing sectors’.  Despite objections over its irregularity, more and more people are getting accustomed to this new way of shopping. But, does this industry does have its share of problems.
India’s internet penetration level is around 11.4%. On the other hand, USA and China today have 77.86% and 40.01% penetration rate. The worldwide average is around 35%. The internet browsing levels are very low in India compared to other parts. It is still expensive to browse the net in India; also people from tier-2 and tier-3 cities find it difficult to have internet access. We have a population base, which has budding for a thriving e-commerce industry but is limited by the broadband penetration.

The infrastructure requires secured payment solutions, and blindly trusting your money with some unknown company is very difficult to achieve in India. But, high failure rate at payment gateway could obstruct the growth of e-commerce industry. There are many loopholes in the law, causing many cyber crimes to occur.
Biggest challenge in India for online retailing companies in India is logistics. Given the large size of the country, there are thousands of towns that are not easily accessible. Metropolitan cities and other major urban centers have a decent active logistics infrastructure. But since the real “customers” of the Indian market lies in its large population, absence of infinite access to a significant of probable customers is a hindrance.
 Another great hurdle of all is the huge competition between various e-businesses. For a small product, there can be as many as five different well-funded companies battling for it. The firms have been fighting in a price war that has pushed profit margins to almost nothing. Bidding wars can spiral out of control even on the company’s own name.  The war these companies are fighting is unsustainable.  The problem of competition is also compounded by very little brand recognition.  (Continued in part 2)

Sunday, 4 January 2015

Gujarat Solar Park

Gujarat Solar Park


In May 2014, Narendra Modi was elected the Prime Minister. He left his job as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, a state he had developed into one of India’s most economically productive one when he took reins in 2001. Right now, Gujarat is one of the few states in India which can boast of 24-7 electricity. And to supplement that is the Gujarat Solar Park.

Asia’s largest solar power park, the Gujarat Solar Park is a great initiative from Modi as a part of India’s efforts to curb carbon emissions. The most surprising thing is that what once was complete barren land, is now expected to generate 2/3rd of India’s solar power production. Considering the massive 2012 blackout, awareness & use of renewable energy in India must increase & this is a great step towards it. By 2013, India aims for solar power to account for 3 percent of total national capacity and the nation wants renewable sources of energy to rise from the current 6 percent capacity to a whopping 15 percent of capacity by 2020.

As more & more solar plants are constructed in & around these areas, economic rural development is expected to occur. And there are other benefits too such as employment generation as well as irrigation water provision.

The huge power deficit and the recent challenges to coal & petroleum supply, is one of the main reason why Modi was voted into power. The success of the scheme, should propel other states to create & develop more solar parks. Projects such as the construction of new plants Dhirubhai Ambani Solar Park in Rajasthan, Welspun Solar Park (Madhya Pradesh), Sakri Solar Park(Maharashtra) and the development of solar park in Andhra Pradesh and Bhadla Solar Park (Rajasthan) are examples of these. More such sites for these plants are being identified by Jammu & Kashmir, Meghalaya, and Karnataka etc. Foreign Investment, hence, is much required for these. And for that to occur, we must support & enhance our knowledge/use of solar energy.


As Thomas A. Edison once said “I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.” Certainly, we don’t have to wait since we don’t have time to complete replace non-renewable energy with renewable forms. Other countries such as USA and China have already realized this and have formulated polices with regard to this.