Infrastructure and Energy Sector

[ezsasa]

Test train run on bogibeel bridge in Assam, 5 km long bridge..

 

[ezsasa]

Three or four years ago there was a discussion on building roads with plastic mix.
apparently it has been taken care of.
=====
Green Roads To Clean Villages: Rural Ministry Constructs Over 20,000 Km Using Environment-Friendly Technologies

The Ministry for Rural Development has built over 20,000 km of roads adopting environment-friendly measures in the past four years as part of government’s rural road development scheme, reports Hindustan Times.

The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is a nationwide plan to provide all-weather road connectivity to unconnected and under-connected villages. Official statistics says that 5,62,047 km of new and improved rural road network has been created.

“For the last few years, our focus to using green and environment-friendly technologies has been yielding better results. We have completed 20,733 Km of roads using green methods, ”Rural Development Secretary Amarjeet Sinha was quoted saying.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari had lauded the Rural Development Ministry's performance.

Gadkari who is also a staunch advocate of adopting environment-friendly measures in constructing roads had advised road developers of Maharashtra to use a mixture of 30 per cent glass, rubber and plastic waste in road construction.

The Rural Development Ministry had made use of shredded plastic remains in building greener roads. Waste plastic has been used in building 9,600 km of the road followed by cold mix, a bitumen-based formula, (6041 kms).

“Some of the most used techniques to [build green roads] are cold mix technology, waste plastic technology, fly ash, steel slag, coir and jute geotextile, a cell filled concrete and panel concrete,” said Alka Upadhyay, the Rural Ministry Official who leads the PMSGY.

https://swarajyamag.com/insta/green...00-km-using-environment-friendly-technologies

 

[ezsasa]

follow this twitter handle to get a weekly update on where your state govts are spending their money and what policy changes they are making.
CSIS Indian States‏@IndiaStatesCSIS

this week most BJP states focussed on rooftop solar and land lease policies.
=======
#Odisha approves $3.5 billion in investments; -
#HimachalPradesh to amend Land Lease Rules, 2013; -
Union Cabinet approves the privatization of the management of six airports.

Read the full weekly here:

 

[aarav]

world highest rail bridge accomplish important milestones,completion on may 2019, will provide all weather rail link in the valley from pir panjal ranges ensure large troop and Armour movement in short notice,also can stand a blast of 30 kg tnt as claimed hence no chance of subversive activities and 8.0 richter scale earthquake

 

[aarav]

This Line udhampur-reasi-anantnag-srinagar-baramulla(uri) goes up to the LoC and will provide great logistic solution to army ,jammu to udhampur -katra work done on other side in valley baramulla to banihal which contain a long tunnel also done ,this small section of katra-reasi-banihal will operationalised the whole line ,project was sanctioned and declared national project by atal bihari vajaypayee

 

[G10]

world highest rail bridge accomplish important milestones,completion on may 2019, will provide all weather rail link in the valley from pir panjal ranges ensure large troop and Armour movement in short notice,also can stand a blast of 30 kg tnt as claimed hence no chance of subversive activities and 8.0 richter scale earthquake

It was supposed to be a cable suspension bridge no? Cant see any towers and cables,
Edit: Sorry it is arch bridge.

 

[Chinmoy]

It was supposed to be a cable suspension bridge no? Cant see any towers and cables,
Edit: Sorry it is arch bridge.

Interestingly the tallest railway bridge in world in terms of pillar too is coming up in India.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Mukesh Ambani plans to expand RIL Jamnagar complex to make world’s largest refinery even bigger
Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd. is considering a plan to boost its oil-refining capacity by about half.

Mukesh Ambani seeks to cement Reliance Industries’ dominance in India — the world’s fastest-growing major oil consuming nation. (File Photo)

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries Ltd. is considering a plan to boost its oil-refining capacity by about half, people with knowledge of the matter said. The proposed plant, to come up at the world’s biggest refining complex in Jamnagar, will be able to process as much as 30 million tons of crude a year, the people said asking not to be identified because the discussions are private. A Reliance spokesman didn’t reply to an email seeking comment.

Asia’s richest man seeks to cement Reliance’s dominance in the world’s fastest-growing major oil consuming nation as rivals including Saudi Aramco, Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., and Russia’s Rosneft PJSC acquire plants in India. Total SA and Royal Dutch Shell are also expanding into fuel retailing in India. International Energy Agency expects India’s energy demand to more than double by 2040, making it the single largest source of global growth.

Reliance has begun discussions with global refinery process licencors and equipment vendors for the new refining train at the Jamnagar complex, the people said. The plant of the size planned by the company may cost $10 billion, they said.

Saudi Aramco and ADNOC signed agreements to invest in a proposed 60-million ton refinery complex on India’s west coast while Rosneft and partners acquired the country’s second-largest private oil processor.

Shell has restarted retailing gasoline and diesel in the country, while Total partnered the Adani Group to set up liquefied natural gas import terminals and fuel retailing business. Last year, BP Plc expanded its partnership with Reliance to retail auto fuels.

Demand for fuel in India and the Middle East will make the two regions bigger oil consumers than the European Union by 2030, driven mainly by diesel for trucks and petrochemicals feedstock, according to the IEA.

Reliance is looking to process the dirtiest and heaviest crude and may focus on producing feedstock for petrochemicals, the people said.

The expansion plan is still under discussion and hasn’t been finalized, the people said. A feasibility report is likely to be prepared by the end of next year, once the recently-expanded petrochemicals capacities stabilize, and Reliance is expected to make the final investment decision with an aim to start work in 2020, the people said.

The company had considered expanding its refining capacity in the past, and in 2013-14 it sought environment approval for the project. Reliance didn’t move ahead with the plan as it focused on increasing downstream chemicals capacities and building the telecom business.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

"Historic Moment": Gujarat To Get Major Sea Water Desalination Plant

 

[republic_roi97]

What is the progress on the GIFT city?

This is quora link but the answer to this contains a lot of insight on what projects are on the various levels of development over there, apart from a few most of these projects are actually building up at an enormous pace.

 

[Kshatriya87]

"Historic Moment": Gujarat To Get Major Sea Water Desalination Plant

Is this the same tech Netanyahu gave us ? The mobile vehicle mounted salination plant ?

 

[Why so serious?]

Shirdi trust gives Rs 500-crore loan, blessings to Maharashtra project
Prafulla Marpakwar | TNN | Updated: Dec 2, 2018, 08:58 IST

TNN
Devendra Fadnavis

HIGHLIGHTS

• The loan will be used to complete the pending works of the Nilwande irrigation project to meet the drinking-water needs of most tehsils in Ahmednagar district
• The loan proposal was approved on February 1 and the order to release funds in two instalments was issued on Saturday

MUMBAI: The cash-starved Devendra

Fadnavis government
has secured an interest-free loan of Rs 500 crore from the Saibaba Temple Trust of Shirdi for completion of pending works of the Nilwande irrigation project to meet the drinking-water needs of most tehsils in

After the BJP-led government approached the trust for a loan for the irrigation project, its chairperson BJP leader Suresh Haware took the decision of granting it. Never before has such a huge loan been given to a state-run corporation without interest. Also, no timeframe has been fixed for repayment of loan.

At a meeting presided over by CM Fadnavis on February 1, the loan proposal was approved and the order to release funds in two instalments was issued on Saturday. "The Saibaba Temple Trust and the Godawari-Marathwada Irrigation Development Corporation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the purpose. It will be a special case in the history of the temple trust," a senior official told TOI.


The official said work on the project had been pending for long. Of the total project cost of Rs 1,200 crore, the temple trust will release Rs 500 crore. The water resources department has made a budgetary provision of Rs 300 crore in the current year, while it has been proposed to make a provision of Rs 400 crore in next year's budget. "We expect to complete the work of the left and right bank canal in two years," he said.


The official said 70,000 devotees visit the Shirdi temple every day, and during festive season, the number crosses the 3.5 lakh mark. But there is acute shortage of water in the region. "We have proposed to meet the demand of all tehsils in Ahmednagar district. Akole, Sangamner, Rahuri, Kopargaon and Shirdi are among the villages which will benefit once the project is complete," the official said.


Incidentally, all these tehsils are controlled by politicians. NCP leader Madhukar Pichad belongs to Akole, BJP's Shivajirao Kardile and Snehalata Kolhe belong to Rahuri and Kopergaon, while leader of opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil has been elected from Shirdi. The official said that the trust had released Rs 71 crore for four government-run medical colleges. "This time, an exception has been made in the form of an interest-free loan, for a public cause," the official said

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Flying drones is now legal in India, here's all you need to know
A Unique Identification Number (UIN) will now be required for all drones except drones in the Nano category.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), commonly known as Drones, are all set to be legal to fly in India starting December 1. Owing to security reasons, the blanket ban imposed by the DGCA on October 7, 2014 is set to lift, encouraging development of emerging technology and investments in India. In the last few years, consumer interest has scaled with demand for aerial photography and wide range of commercial applications in India’s B2B sector.

As per new draft issued in November 2017, consumer drones are categorized in five different categories: Nano – less than or equal to 250 grams, micro – greater than 250 grams and less than or equal to 2 kg, mini - greater than 2 kg and less than or equal to 25 kg, small - greater than 25 kg and less than or equal to 150 kg and large – greater than 150 kg. Most consumer drones manufactured today fall under the Nano and Micro categories.

Requirements under the new law

Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) is the set of regulations issued by DGCA to be complied with by all drone pilots in controlled and uncontrolled airspaces. A Unique Identification Number (UIN), which is an equivalent of a number plate will be required for all drones except drones in the Nano category. This will cost a user Rs 1000 and will have to be engraved on a fire-resistant plate emblazoned on the drone. The ‘UIN’ should be readily accessible and legible during visual inspection.

You will also need an ‘Unmanned Aerial Operator Permit’ (UAOP) or Remote Pilot license costing about Rs 25,000 if you are operating above 200 feet. National Technical Research Organization, Aviation Research Centre and Central Intelligence Agency drone operators are exempted from this. Nano category drones are exempted unless operating over 50 feet. The validity is for a period of five years and non-transferrable. Permit renewals will cost Rs 10,000.

The drone will require an insurance cover, which should be of an adequate amount to cover risks, damages or other factors that are posed by operation.

All drones will need to be NPNT compliant (No permission – No Take off), a software program to enable operators to obtain permissions prior to flying. OEM and Drone manufacturers such as DJI, Parrot, Autel, Swellpro will need to comply with this requirement.

How to apply?

Digital Sky – an online platform to be operational from December 1 has been developed for handling UIN, UAOP applications and permission to fly drones in India. Instructions for filling out applications will be available in the manual on the DGCA website homepage.

Drone Operator requirements and eligibility

Every drone operator will have to undergo training at a DGCA approved flying training organization (FTO), has to be 18 years of age and should’ve studied up to a minimum of class 10 in English.

Recreational use – Do’s and Don’ts

A Flight plan will have to be logged through Digital Sky.

Drone operations are restricted to day and within visual line of sight. However, if you are shooting in well-lit enclosed premises using a micro drone up to 200 feet above ground level, DGCA may authorize such operations on a case to case basis, which would come with additional conditions.

Informing the local police 24 hours prior to flying is a must.

A distance of 25 km distance must be maintained from the international border, LOC and Line of Actual Control.

A drone should not be operated within an area of 5 km from airports, 500 mts from perimeter of strategic locations notified by Ministry of Home Affairs or from a perimeter of military installations/ facilities; within 5 km radius from Vijay chowk.

Foreigners are currently not allowed to fly drones in India. For commercial purposes, they need to lease the drone to an Indian entity who in turn will have to obtain a UIN and UAOP from DGCA.

Penalty on Violation

Users risk cancellations or suspension of the UIN/UAOP if regulations are violated and will attract penal action under relevant IPC sections 287, 336, 337, 338 under Aircraft Act 194 and Aircraft Rules.

The Government is working towards technologies to restrict or neutralize rogue drones that are not registered.

Right Approach?

Legalizing use of drones is a step in the right direction and implementation will go through a trial and error phase before the process is smooth with fewer challenges.

By The News Minute

 

[Indx TechStyle]

It's going to open up a new industry.
If was done in meantime, India would have gained lot by employing drones in economy as well as exports but as now neighboring China has established industry we wish to, expect a lot of them to be imported.

 

[Why so serious?]

India to add 10,000 MW renewable energy capacity in FY20: Report
By PTI | Dec 11, 2018, 09.07 PM IST

• renewable energy (RE) in the overall generation mix rising across India, rating agency Icra expects a capacity addition of 10,000 MW in fiscal year 2020, and has maintained a stable outlook for the sector.
  
  
  The share of renewable energy in the generation mix has increased from 5.6 per cent in FY2015 to 7.8 per cent in FY2018.
  
  
  Compliance, the fintech killer
  "This rise is owing to the large-sized capacity addition in the wind and solar power segments during this period, driven by policy support from central and state governments as well as the significantly improved tariff competitiveness of wind and solar power vis-a-vis conventional power sources," it said.
  
  Icra group head - corporate ratings Sabyasachi Majumdar said the project awards by the central nodal agencies and state distribution utilities in 2017 and 2018 (year-to- date) provide a reasonably healthy visibility for RE capacity addition in FY2019 and FY2020 with expected addition of about 9,000 MW in FY2019 and about 10,000 MW in FY2020.
  
  "This is expected to increase the share of RE in the all India generation to 10 per cent by FY2020 and further to 13 per cent by FY2022 based on capacity addition forecasts. We have maintained a year-end stable outlook for the domestic renewable energy sector," he added.
  
  Icra, however, noted that RE sector especially wind and solar segments remain exposed to near-term challenges arising due to cost impact of safeguard duty and rising interest rate, coupled with transmission network availability.
  
  The average bid tariffs discovered in the auctions for wind and solar power projects in 2018 has so far remained at Rs 2.6-2.7 per unit, increasing slightly from the low of Rs 2.4 per unit.
  
  This uptrend in bid tariffs was partly driven by factors such as cost headwinds arising from rising interest rates, increase in capital costs due to imposition of taxes and duties, rupee depreciation against dollar for imported equipment, and rising equipment costs, it said.
  
  "However, notwithstanding these cost pressures, wind and solar PV (photovoltaic) energy projects are likely to remain cost competitive against conventional power sources," Icra said.
  
  On the other hand, the viability of bid tariffs for wind and solar IPPs (independent power producers) remains critically dependent upon the capital cost, long tenure debt availability at competitive cost and plant load factor level.
  
  "Amidst the imposition of safeguard duty, the recent order issued by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission(CERC) approving the GST claims raised by solar power developers is a positive development for the sector. However, a time lag in implementation of such pass-through of cost increases cannot be ruled out, given the resistance shown by the end off-takers in such cases in the past," it noted.

 

[ezsasa]

With the release of this document, power ministry by 2030 will become a critical portifolio on par with defence and Finance
====================
India's Ministry of Power issues rules for EV charging stations. Int'l standards/ build-out in big cities/ more.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Indian Scientists Develop World’s First Low Temperature Thermal Desalination Plant

Scientists at the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai have developed world’s first low temperature thermal desalination plant, which could address drinking water problems in India’s ocean island territories and even offshore urban centres along the coastline.

Low temperature thermal desalination (LTTD) is one process that uses the availability of a temperature gradient between two water bodies or flows to evaporate the warmer seawater at low pressures and condense the resultant vapour with the colder seawater to obtain fresh water.

“The 12-13oC cold water available at about 400m depth within 600m from the island is used along with the surface water at about 28oC to produce potable water in the Lakshadweep Islands,” Dr Ramana Murthy, Scientist at NIOT told Indian Science Journal.

NIOT

“The simplicity of the LTTD process also enables to control the quality of product water in order to provide potable drinking water.”

While the cost of desalinated water would depend on the technology used and cost of electricity, which varies from place to place, according to cost estimates made by an independent agency for LTTD technology, it works out to 61 paise per litre for Island based plants.

The technology is environment friendly, completely indigenous with low operational and maintenance issues and with long-term sustainability.

The remote Lakshadweep islands have been facing drinking water scarcity with increasing population and higher tourists’ inflow. The plants set up by NIOT in Karavatti, Minicoy and Agatti cater to the requirements of the local population.

NIOT is setting up more plants in the union territory in the islands of Androth, Amini, Kadamat, Kiltan, Kalpeni and Chetlat with a capacity of 1.5 Lakh liter each per day for which the work has already been initiated. The completion of these 6 plants will resolve the water problem in Lakshadweep islands and drinking water is provided all inhabited islands.

Dr Atmanand, Director said NIOT is currently scouting for public-private partnership for further development of the technology to upscale the capacity to the tune of 10 million litres a day (MLD) for offshore requirements.

“One of the advantages of the process is that it can be implemented even with a low temperature gradient of about 8¬-10oC between two water bodies, with no additional requirement of heating/cooling,” Dr Atmanand said.

Even though flash distillation is a commonly used desalination process worldwide and especially in Middle East, none of the established plants work with the temperature gradient as low as 8oC as is possible in the LTTD process.

Installation of LTTD projects is not without any technical challenges. Site-specific design and installation of 950 m long pipeline to draw cold water from 350 metre depth and marine structure to draw cold/warm water and to support the pipeline is a major challenge.

NIOT

As the seabed topography and environment are different in each island, the design of marine structures and the cold water pipe was prepared considering site-specific conditions of respective island.

The marine structures consist of three major structural components - intake sump to draw cold/warm water; approach trestle carrying cold/warm water from the sump to plant building and also providing access from shore to the sump; and, plant building to house process equipment.

The intake sump has to be provided at 5m water depth contour, and length of the bridge depends on the distance of this depth contour from the shore and NIOT has specialised in design and implementation of the marine structure, deep sea cold water pipe, and process equipment, Dr. Murthy said.

These plants can be easily be established in Maldives, Mauritius and some of the Pacific islands and found be best technology for remote islands, as there is no maintenance.

Dr Atmanand said, LTTD technology was also demonstrated using waste heat generated from the North Chennai Power Plant to produce fresh water. The demonstration plant has a capacity of one lakh litres per day. NIOT has also commissioned a barge-mounted plant of 1 million litres per day off Chennai, which once scaled up can address drinking water shortage in the southern metropolis.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

India mulls building natural gas reserves

 

[Chinmoy]

Bogibeel Bridge, India’s longest, to be inaugurated by PM Modi after 21 years

https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...pm-modi-after-21-years/videoshow/67225576.cms

 

[Suryavanshi]

@Chinmoy is it feasible to make a underground tunnel for military transportaion across Brahmaputra.