TAPI Gas Pipeline

TAPI Gas Pipeline

In one of the most important and buzzing region, the TAPI Gas pipeline is on the process of being laid. Officially known as the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India Pipeline (TAPI), it is being developed by the Asian Development Bank. This pipeline will natural gas from Turkmenistan to India, passing through Afghanistan and Pakistan. Construction on the project started in Turkmenistan on 13 December 2015 and is expected to be completed by 2019.

The project is primarily expected to serve the India’s needs for natural gas. Covering more than 1,800 kilometres, the annual capacity of this project is 32 billion cubic metres of natural gas. It is expected to cost US$7.6 billion. The project though faces environmental and financial challenges.

“Project security remains a concern after the 2014 withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. Transaction advisor‑Asian Development Bank is building‑a consortium that would build and‑operate the‑line.” (KPMG)

South-North Water Transfer Project

South-North Water Transfer Project

Delivering mass infrastructures consistently, effectively and efficiently, the South-North Water Transfer/Diversion Project is one of the biggest project ever to be implemented, spanning over many decades. “Its main aim is to divert 44.8 billion cubic meters of fresh water annually from the Yangtze River in southern China to the more arid and industrialized north through three canal systems:

·         Eastern Route through the course of the Grand Canal;

·         Central route flowing from Han River (a tributary of Yangtze River) to Beijing and Tianjin

·         Western route which goes from three tributaries of Yangtze River to provinces like Qinghai, Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia and Ningxia”(Wikipedia)

With declining levels of groundwater, and decreasing groundwater, this project will be beneficial to more than 200 million people in the North region of China. The main beneficiary will also be the ever-growing network of cities & industries in China. 

Willets Point Development Plan

Willets Point Development Plan

A Historic plan which can transform an area neglected by generations into a posh and highly-sought one, the Willets Point Development Plan will completely transform the social environment by changing the infrastructure and waterworks involved. This shows how much possible impact infrastructure can have on the society. Apart from providing employment and business opportunities, it will also open up social mobility and improve quality of life.

“The first phase of the Willets Point Development Plan in the New York City borough of Queens aims to create around 2,500 units of mixed-income housing, retail and entertainment amenities, public open space, a school, hotel and convention center. Phase 1, budgeted at‑US$3 billion and funded by private developers, hopes to have a huge social impact in an area that has suffered decades of post-industrial decline by generating employment and improving the overall quality of life for residents. This project also plans to create defenses against the pollution that has plagued the waterways around Willets Point for‑over a century.” (KPMG)

Right now, the Plan is in legal hassles with conflicts occurring between the city administration and the court. Various other schemes such as turning into a stadium or parking for the LaGuardia Airport have been rejected/scrapped. 

Ohio River Bridges Project

Ohio River Bridges Project

“The Ohio River Bridges Project is an ongoing Louisville metropolitan area transportation project involving the reconstruction of the Kennedy Interchange, the completion of two new Ohio River bridges and the reconstruction of ramps on Interstate 65 between I-264 and downtown.” (Wikipedia)

Out of the two bridges, one bridge will be located downtown while the other, known as the "East End bridge," will connect the Indiana and Kentucky segments of I-265 (via KY-841) between Louisville's East end and Utica, Indiana.

The cost of the entire projects is approximately $2.5 billion and would be the largest transportation project ever constructed between the two states. Construction began in 2014, with the entire project being completed by 2024.

The project aims to increase transport between the two rivers, increase safety standards, connecting highways and reducing traffic congestion. The US$2.3 billion project involves the largest PPP Private Activity Bond offering completed in the US municipal market, and should provide a major economic stimulus to the Louisville-southern Indiana region. The main advantage of this project is convenient travelling & commuting for the citizens of this region.  

Kathmandu-Kulekhani-Hetauda Tunnel Highway

Kathmandu-Kulekhani-Hetauda Tunnel Highway

This highway will connect entire western followed by southern and eastern parts of Nepal through Hetauda and will significantly boost overall economic growth of the corridor, region and the whole country.

The Hetauda-Narayanghat-Mugling-Kathmandu passage is one of the highest trafficked road corridors in Nepal. Most of the goods from India or third countries are brought to Kathmandu via this route from Birgunj and other places. The road length from Hetauda to Kathmandu is approximately 227 km with travel time of approx. 6-8 hrs. The alternative route - the Tribhuvan Highway, though only 133 km in length still requires travel time of approx. 7-8 hrs. Whereas the purposed KKHT Highway will connect Kathmandu with Hetauda via Kulekhani in an hour.

“Labelled as a ‘4P’ (private, public, partnership and people), the Kathmandu-Kulekhani-Hetauda Tunnel Highway will be a milestone for Nepal if it goes ahead with a build, operate, own and transfer model. The Nepal Purbadhar Bikas Company Limited was set up as the country’s first infrastructure development organization to build it. At a cost of US$354 million, the 58 km road and tunnel will cut across the challenging Himalayan terrain to dramatically cut travel times, reduce vehicle fuel and maintenance expenses, boost business and improve citizens’ lives.” (KPMG)

São Francisco river

São Francisco river

“At US$6.4 billion, the São Francisco River Irrigation project is Brazil’s largest water infrastructure project, bringing good quality water to some of the country’s poorest people. Water from the São Francisco river will be diverted to rivers in the northeast that have dried up during the arid season,

via 720 kilometers of channels covering aqueducts, tunnels and reservoirs. Construction began in 2007 and is still continuing.” (KPMG)

Mombasa-Kigali Railway

Mombasa-Kigali Railway

The Mombasa-Kigali Railway is expected to bring many benefits to African economy. “Africa’s landlocked countries have poor infrastructure and struggle to reach global markets, paying up to 84 percent more to export their goods than a coastal country. The 2,935 kilometer Mombasa-Kigali Railway will link the port of Mombasa in Kenya with Tanzania and landlocked Rwanda and South Sudan, helping transport coffee, tea, other agricultural products, minerals, and machinery. Costing US$13.5 billion, the line is to be built in sections by different Chinese engineering and construction companies, with loans provided by, among others, China’s Exim Bank, and paid for by public funds from the countries involved”. (KPMG)