[World8115]

Badal asks Dhumal to get clearances for Naina Devi Ropeway

Source

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today asked his Himachal Pradesh counterpart Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal to seek early clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests to pave a way for the setting up of the prestigious project of Ropeway between Sri Anandpur Sahib and Naina Devi through Public Private Partnership mode.

Chairing the 29th meeting of the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board at Punjab Bhawan here, Mr Badal urged Prof Dhumal telephonically to get the clearances relating to environment, forests and wildlife expedited from the Ministry of Environment and Forests so that the project of immense tourism potential for both the state could be implemented without any further delay.

Mr Dhumal responded in a positive manner and assured Mr Badal that he would soon take up the matter with the Union Minister of Environment and Forests at the earliest.

 

[gentem]

Road likely to open for traffic by next year end
UPGRADATION OF BHADERWAH–CHAMBA ROAD
AKSHAY AZAD

Jammu, May 8: The Jammu region would soon have its first ever surface link with the neighbouring Himachal Pardesh as the up-gradation work on the Bhaderwah-Chamba road is likely to be completed by the end of next year.
Being projected as a prestigious link for promotion of tourism in this part of the state, the commissioning of the road would serve as first ever direct surface link of Jammu region with the Himalayan state and an alternate link with the rest of the country.
Engineers of executing agency MG Contractors Private Limited told Greater Kashmir that the up-gradation work on 42 kilometer long road was in full swing and the route would be ready for vehicular movement by November 2013. “If weather conditions remain conducive, the road widening, repairing and black topping will be completed by November, 2013” they said.
They said that out of the three steel bridges to be constructed along the route, one was ready, while the work on the other two would be completed by this year end.
“The construction of one steel structure bridge has already been completed, while the work on the second is in last stage- the third one is also likely to be completed by the end of this year” they said.
Elaborating the hurdles being faced by the company in the execution of the work, they said, “The road passes through hard rocky mountains which are still covered by snow. The work has been resumed on major portion, but there are some places where snow is hampering the work”.
They further said that the road traverses through high mountain ranges which experience snow and rainfall off and on. “Since last few days there was regular rain and snowfall along the route which halted the construction work resumed after winter. The rain and snowfall often causes landslides forcing men and machinery to stop work” they added.
The road on the Himachal Pardesh side, they said, was still covered under snow. “The snow clearance operation is in progress. It would take around 15-20 days to clear the snow on HP side” they said, adding that the construction work on the other side would only be started after June this year.
They said that due to hostile weather conditions they were getting very less working time. “We are getting only 7 months work time in a year. During last two years we got only 14-15 months, if the weather remains normal the work would be completed by next year”.
Pertinently the construction work on the road project was resumed in the year 2010, after a gap of more than two decades.
The project, which was stopped abruptly, had been sanctioned under Inter-State Connectivity program at a cost of Rs 73.33 crores. This road was motorable for vehicles up to 1986, but due to the militancy the road had been abandoned. The completion of the project will give fillip to tourism, trade and people to people contact between the two states and also strengthen the local economy and will also increase the potential of pilgrim tourism of the Bhaderwah which is known for Machail Yatra, Mani Mahesh Yatra and Kailash Yatra etc.

 

[anidel]

HP: 800 MW of surplus power but no buyers

Shimla Himachal Pradesh is producing a surplus of power with no buyers lining up. The situation has reached such a desperate point that the state is forced to sell its power for Rs 2.50 to Rs 3.50 per unit. Just two years ago, the state’s revenue from power was Rs 1,300 crore.

We were selling at Rs 7.50 per unit but that was only a temporary increase due to sudden demand from the distribution companies,” admits Principal secretary (Power) Deepak Sanan.

In addition to tourism, the state has looked towards power generation for its earnings.

The state is on its way to adding another 1,000 MW of power in next few months.

Earlier, the state used to tie-up its power rates with neighbouring states and private distribution companies in April — before the beginning of the peak generation time.

The situation has changed to an extent that no buyer comes forward and instead opts to buy on a daily basis offering current rates which frequently fluctuates.

“It’s a bad situation. Most states instead of buying power decide to impose prolong cuts on the consumers because they do not want to purchase power. :bash::bash:

Unless the Centre intervenes to regulate the situation, we are at loss,” Sanan told the The Indian Express.

“Last year, the state sold power in bulk at Rs 4.30 per unit to Uttar Pradesh, which has failed to pay about Rs 200 crore. I held talks with my counterpart in UP asking him to clear arrears of Rs 200 crores and buy more power but he expressed inability as the state does’nt have the money to buy additional power. They have rather decided to impose cuts.”

More Power

Himachal Pradesh ‘s installed power capacity now stands at 7,900 MW and another 1,000 MW will soon be added by commissioning of Chamera-III and Parbati-III project . The commissioning of 1,000 MW Karcham Wangtoo Project and 192 MW Allain Duhangan — both private sector projects — have made 12 per cent free power available to the state as royalty but earning of the state have gone down from Rs 1,300 crore to Rs 1,000 crore — a shortfall of Rs 300 crore — despite the state getting its share of 7.19 percent from Bhakra projects.

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/hp-800-mw-of-surplus-power-but-no-buyers/964102/

 

[infra desperados]

Foundation stone of Bangana-Dhaneta tunnel laid

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister P K Dhumal today laid the foundation stone of the 1200 meter long Bangana-Dhaneta tunnel project, which will connect Una and Hamirpur districts throughout the year.

The tunnel project is estimated to cost Rs 145.47 crore and reduce the distance between Bangana and Dhaneta by eight kms, Dhumal said on the occasion.

The Detailed Project Report (DPR) of three tunneling projects had been prepared, which included Holi-Uttrala, connecting Bharmour of district Chamba with Baijnath in district Kangra.
Bhubu Jot tunnel project, connecting Joginder Nagar and Kullu area, and Bangana-Dhaneta project have been considered as well.
Work on Bangana-Dhaneta tunnel project would be started on priority basis, for which a provision of Rs 10 crore had already been made.

The tunnel was bound to boost tourism in the area since a large number of devotees and tourists had been travelling through Una and entering other parts of the state, he said.

Hitting out at the Centre, Dhumal accused it of discriminating against Himachal. Inspite of this, the state had performed "remarkably" well on the developmental front.

On the issue of price rise, Dhumal said the UPA government had completely failed to ensure stable prices and claimed they were "taxing the poor."

 

[truckin]

which will connect Una and Hamirpur districts throughout the year.

Una and Hamirpur are anyway connected throughout the year as there's no snow fall in these two districts.
And a Rs. 147 crore worth of tunnel just to shorten the distance by 8 kms.?! Either the report is incomplete or we are more developed that Scandinavian countries.

 

[n20]

MDR39 in Una District being upgraded

Rs. 15 crore was sanctioned on August 7 for upgrading Ajouli - Laluwal Road (Major District Road 39) in Una District for development of industrial areas linking these two places. No date of completion is provided in the article.

source

 

[DeadManWalking]

Germany to help Himachal hydro project​

SHIMLA: Government of Germany has committed a financial assistance of 201.50 million euros (Rs 1,630 crore) for Thana Plaun Project of Himachal Pradesh under "Himalaya Hydropower Program".

Of this amount, 200 million euros (Rs 1,618 crore) will be by way of reduced interest loan and the balance 1.5 million euros (Rs 12 crore) will be by way of grant for carrying out further technical studies of the Project.

The department of economic affairs has informed Himachal Pradesh government and Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) about this. During the Indo-German Annual Negotiations 2013 under Indo-German Bilateral Development Cooperation Program held during July in New Delhi, HPPCL managing director DK Sharma had presented a request for financial assistance from Government of Germany for the 191 MW Thana Plaun Hydro Electric Power Project of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited located on river Beas, around 25 km downstream of Mandi town.

Sharma said that Thana Plaun Project of HPPCL had initially been conceived as run of the river Project with the installed capacity of 141 MW.

After optimization, typical run-of-the-river project with Head Race Tunnel has been converted into a dam-toe power house layout.

As a result, after discussions with the Central Electricity Authority, Government of India, the installed capacity has been enhanced from 141MW to 191 MW.

He said that KfW, a development financing agency wholly owned by the Government of Germany, will now commence the technical, environmental and social evaluation of the Thana Plaun Hydro Electric Project. He said this evaluation is expected to be completed by June, 2014.

HPPCL expects to obtain all regulatory approvals by September, 2014 and to sign the loan agreement with KfW by September, 2014. The project construction is expected to commence by January, 2015 and is expected to be completed in about 4 years' time thereafter.

 

[ramakrishna1984]

Abu Dhabi’s ADWEA likely to acquire Jaypee’s hydro-power projects in Himachal Pradesh, India

Abu Dhabi Water & Electric Authority (ADWEA), apparently through its separately listed business arm Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), is likely to acquire Jaiprakash Power Ventures’s two operating hydro-power projects in Himachal Pradesh, India for a consideration of around $1.84–$2bn.

Source:

​

 

[DeadManWalking]

Hi-tech buses to improve transportation in urban areas of Himachal​

SHIMLA: Urban areas of Himachal Pradesh are set to witness improved city transport system with ministry of urban development sanctioning 800 integrated traffic system (ITS)-enabled buses under JNNURM. These state-of-the-art buses carry GPS, LED displays and CCTVs which would be connected to a central control centre for systematic monitoring.

The new vehicles would be operated in towns like Una, Chamba, Mandi, Solan, Shimla and Kullu-Manali, besides other areas. Out of these 800 buses, 540 buses have been sanctioned in mid-category and first installment of the Union government share will be released to the state after submission of information, documents within three months according to conditions given in the bus-funding guidelines, sources said. The Centre will provide financial assistance up to 90% of the total cost of the buses.

Himachal Pradesh urban development minister Sudhir Sharma said that sanction was given through the central sanctioning and monitoring committee at its meeting held on Wednesday in New Delhi.

 

[World8115]

A proud day for Gujarat, Himachal

 

[World8115]

With escalators, Shimla no longer to be an uphill climb

The Times of India

In Shimla if the only lift installed near the old bus stand stops working then reaching the Mall road from the Circular road become a challenge for tourists as they have to take a long and difficult climb. As tourists coming to Shimla find it difficult even to walk along the Mall road carrying their toddlers, renting out prams and wheel-chairs has become a flourishing business for locals. But tourists may soon be able to avail a third option with the Shimla municipal corporation deciding to install escalators at three locations in the town.

At present, before coming to Shimla tourists start making enquiries whether they would get prams, strollers or wheel-chairs as they find it difficult to walk, especially with kids, elderly or ailing people. "But once escalators start functioning, it would become easier for them to access different locations without bothering to climb, said Naresh Sharma," a taxi driver from Shimla.

"We have already submitted proposal of three locations to the state government through the urban development department," said municipal commissioner Amarjeet Singh. Three sites selected for the project includes Lakkar Bazaar bus stand to Ridge, Lift parking to HPMC booth to Mall road, and Jain temp-Lower Bazaar to Mall road.

At present the project has been proposed under public-private partnership (PPP) mode, and for this Himachal Pradesh Infrastructure Development Board (HPIDB) is the nodal agency. Even SJVN is showing interest for the project, sources said.

Assistant commissioner Naresh Thakur said that initially there was a proposal to have six escalators in Shimla, but during survey only three sites were found feasible. "We have decided that escalators would be installed at three locations on pilot project basis and once they prove successful more escalators would be installed," he added.

The French government has already agreed to work for introduction of rapid transport system in Himachal Pradesh. A technical team from the French embassy after its survey has already recommended light rail transit system for Shimla.

Himachal Pradesh urban development minister Sudhir Sharma, Urban development department director Captain J M Pathania along with other officials had held a meeting with the French ambassador in Delhi last month and discussed the proposal to introduce rapid transport system in Urban areas of Himachal Pradesh with the help of French government.

 

[Ankush Gupta]

Really a great source of information and can easily fetch info. on any project going at a particular place.