2019
K. Vijayalakshmi
Chief, Transport and Communications, MMRDA
K. Vijayalakshmi holds the position of chief, transport and communications, at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). She has over 30 years of experience in the planning and implementation of transportation infrastructure projects in […]
April Issue 2019
April Issue 2019
Changing Hands
Government sells 73 per cent stake in DCI
The government of India finally completed the divestment of its 73.47 per cent stake in the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) in March 2019, selling its share to four major ports. The process of disinvestment […]
New Possibilities
Using waste material for road construction
The Indian road sector has witnessed a major turnaround in activity during the past four to five years. The length of the projects awarded and constructed increased at a compound annual growth rate of over […]
Ripe for Growth
Geosynthetics market to gain from infrastructure and regulatory push
In the past, when dealing with difficult sites for construction purposes, the conventional practice has been limited to either replacing unsuitable soils with other more suitable materials, or bypassing these soils with costly deep foundations. […]
On the Right Track
Trends and developments in the railway sector
The railway sector has received a lot of attention in the past couple of years. There has been a surge in activity in terms of the launch of big-ticket programmes and schemes, introduction of a […]
Reality Check
Greenfield ports progressing at snail’s pace
The past few years have seen increasing competition between the major and non-major ports as the port sector has been gradually moving away from a monopolistic market model to a competitive one. Of the total […]
Gaining Ground
Increasing use of geosynthetics across infrastructure sectors
The application of geosynthetics in infrastructure is steadily gaining ground. Largely manufactured from polymeric materials, these technical textile products are becoming more popular in various infrastructure sectors and are being used to construct retaining walls […]
Promising Future
Opportunities galore in the railway sector
The railway sector is poised to become one of the major drivers for economic growth in the country, given the huge Rs 10 trillion investment planned for the next four-five years. This investment will go […]
Product Classification
Different products of geosynthetics and their applications
Geosynthetics are man-made polymers that are used to improve soil quality and achieve better performance in geotechnical engineering projects. They are easy to produce and transport and can be used to create more environmentally sustainable […]
Fresh Options
IR exploring new sources of financing
Indian Railways (IR) has large-scale financing requirements due to the capital-intensive nature of the works it is implementing. The funds are primarily needed for the creation of rail infrastructure such as new lines, railway stations […]
Need to Revitalise PPPs
IR’s initiatives for improving performance
In the past few years, the railway sector has undoubtedly attracted considerable government attention. Several noteworthy initiatives and policies have been introduced to transform the sector. Steps such as track modernisation, 100 per cent railway […]
Recent Initiatives
Transforming railways for improved passenger service and safety
In the past few years, Indian Railways (IR) has focused on providing world-class facilities to its passengers by offering improved basic amenities on trains and at platforms, ensuring safety and security, and introducing digital initiatives, […]
Network Expansion
Snapshot of tracks and bridges in the railway sector
Over the years, Indian Railways (IR) has made significant progress in strengthening its track and bridge network. While the pace of implementation has been sluggish, the plans on paper are vast, especially with respect to […]
Accident-free Routes
Modernising S&T systems on railway networks to improve safety
Indian Railways (IR) has seen significant growth in demand for signalling and telecommunication (S&T) technologies in recent years. Rising expenditure on safety and enhancing line capacity, and the mounting need for improving efficiencies of train […]
Capacity Augmentation
IR’s rolling stock and upcoming manufacturing facilities
The year 2018-19 has been a significant one for the rolling stock segment. It saw the introduction of the first indigenously developed and manufactured semi-high speed Vande Bharat Express, the roll-out of IR’s first smart […]
Station Makeover
Update on IR’s station redevelopment programme
Given its increased focus on enhancing passenger convenience and comfort, the Ministry of Railways (MoR) announced plans to redevelop 400 Category A and A1 stations across the country. To this end, it launched the Station […]