india transport portal newsletter - march, 2013

A month in the India Transport Sector (No 23) March, 2013

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Copyright India Transport Portal. Edited by Digital Bizzline Ltd. All rights reserved

AIRLESS TWEEL TYRES FROM MICHELIN

Pneumatic tyres may soon become a thing of the

past thanks to tweel airless tyres being developed

by Michelin, one of the leading tyre manufacturers

in the world. While the concept of building tyres without air

may seem unlikely, in reality tweel tyres have been tested

and demonstrated by Michelin on several occasions.

More information on ITP

TRUCK TYRE SIZES

Truck tyres form one of the most important and

prominent parts of the truck. Tyres bear the brunt of

the load of the truck and the road surface allowing a

smooth passage of goods. When it comes to safety

and fuel consumption, tyres make a significant contribution

and therefore require due attention.


THE LATEST ON TUBE AND TUBELESS TYRES

The reputation of Indian roads is rapidly changing,

and for the better. With highways being built across

the length and breadth of India, travel times have

been drastically reduced. The new road revolution has

highlighted the need for better, safer tyres for cars that,

thanks to better roads, can travel at higher speeds.


TUBE AND TUBELESS TYRES FOCUS ON MANUFACTURERS

The very first tubeless tyres were invented in the

early 1900s. However, they could only be

introduced much later due to technical and

design problems. With the technological advancements,

tubeless tyres soon became popular and today dominate

the tyre industry in developed countries. Manufacturers

including Michelin and Goodyear, considered the pioneers in

tubeless tyre technology, understood the potential of

tubeless tyres early enough to invest heavily in their

production.


Remember, remember September 2012,

the Delhi-Gurgaon e-way about to be settled,

I see no reason why Delhi Guargaon eway

should ever be forgot. In September 2012,

the National Highways Authority of India

(NHAI) and the operator of the e-way, Delhi

Gurgaon Super Connectivity Limited (DGSCL)

signed a Memorandum of Understanding

(MoU) in the Delhi High Court. One of the

major moves as part of the move would have

been the implementation of a touchcard

technology.

Unfortunately this issue is not yet settled.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court asked

NHAI officials to appear before court on May

because of measures taken in order to ease

the e-way and toll plaza traffic.

Meanwhile, NHAI issued a termination letter

to DGSCL for its failure to upgrade facilities

and renovate roads. The nodal agency also

blamed lenders led by Infrastructure

Development Finance Co (IDFC) for not

taking charge. For its part, IDFC is blaming

DGSCL for denying access to data and

arguing that it has to take care of its

shareholders.

Well, this is not the end of troubles for

commuters as every stakeholder is shifting

the blame on the other. As usual, money is

the crux of the matter: banks are Rs 1,600

crore exposed and the project would be very

lucrative. Well, maybe when police

personnel will stop opening the boom

barrier, allowing vehicles to pass through

without paying toll. Poor old India to

overthrow. (Quotes loosely based on

traditional rhyme recited on Guy Fawkes

Night).

FOCUS: TYRE ISSUES EDITORIAL


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HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION CREATING TOWNSHIP GROWTH

Underlying construction of highways and

expressways is the belief that such highways can

significantly enhance economic growth in the

surrounding area. They help to reduce travel time, make

movement of goods and people smooth and fast and help

connect cities and central areas with the rest of the country.


ROAD CONSTRUCTION TO GO GREEN

The colour black which is generally associated with

road constructions processes is soon to change to

green. While new roads are a sign of a promising

future, the black smoke emanating from the machines used

is a harsh reminder of how much tax the environment has to

pay for developmental work carried out by man. However,

efforts are being made across the globe to bring down

emission levels not only from cars, but also from factories and

other activities that take a toll on the environment.

More informations on ITP

OLD TECHNOLOGY STILL IN USE FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION

Roads facilitate the movement of goods, services

and people within a country and economic growth

of any nation is directly dependent on fast and

efficient movement of such goods and people on

well built roads. India has been witnessing a construction

boom in the road industry thanks to the initiatives of the

Indian government. Extensive road construction programme

have been launched, under which thousands of kilometres of

roads are currently under construction or scheduled for

construction in the near future.


WHAT IS INDIA DOING ABOUT ITS EXTENSIVE POTHOLE

PROBLEM?

India seems to have been halted en route to

economic progress by the lack of adequate

infrastructure and capital, political meddling, blatant

corruption and the chronic shortage of civil engineers.

Braving inclement weather and crater-filled roads ravaged

by rain is an everyday phenomenon for Indian commuters. In

villages and cities, this is a huge problem. There are frequent

media reports about potholes whose numbers multiply after

heavy downpours.


THE BENEFIT OF INDIAS TRANSPORT CORRIDORS

Transport corridors

generally refer to straight

tracts of land used to build

highways, expressways or

railways. They constitute

the backbone and mainstay of any

transportation network. Transport

corridors seek to connect major hubs

which have the highest

concentration of freight and

passenger traffic.

More information in ITP

INDIAS CRACKDOWN ON OVERLOADED TRUCKS

Overloaded trucks can still

be seen on Indian roads

despite the order of the

Honourable Supreme Court

of India that placed a blanket ban on

the movement of such vehicles in

2005. However, bringing slight relief to

the prevalence of overloaded trucks

is the crackdown on errant vehicles

which is slowly but surely starting to

turn things around. The

implementation of the blanket ban

on overloaded trucks has

unfortunately not had an equal

impact in the various Indian states. As

the states have been given a partial

free hand to deal with overloaded

trucks, the results have, until now,

been quite far from satisfactory.

More information in ITP

RAOD CONSTRUCTION FREIGHT ISSUE


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INDIAN RAILWAYS FACE SEVERE CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS

India has one of the largest railway networks in the

world. For decades it has played a crucial role in the

economic development and integration of the

country. Despite its achievements and contribution,

the growth of Indian Railways has remained stunted. One of

the primary factors that has attributed to its under-

performance is severe capacity constraints.


KHARAGPUR THE LONGEST PLATFORM IN ASIA

Located in the West Midnapore district of the Indian

state of West Bengal, Kharagpur is the fourth largest

city in the state. Kharagpur finds itself in the record

books an entirely different reason. It holds the

record for being home to Asias and indeed the worlds

largest railway platform (1072 metres or 3538 feet), excluding

subway platforms.


CONSTRUCTION WORK FOR BENGALURU METRO

Capital of the southern Indian state of Karnataka,

Bengaluru is one of the fastest growing cities in the

country with a population of over five million. Over

the last decade, Bengaluru has emerged as a

leading research centre and Information Technology (IT)

hub. This has contributed to the citys rapid development

and urbanisation which has put a strain on its existing

infrastructures. Driven by a need to sustain Bengalurus

growth and improve its public transport system, a rail-based

mass transit project was initiated.


THE LONG-AWAITED CHENNAI METRO

The city of Chennai is growing rapidly with an

increasing number of vehicles on the roads. Traffic

jams make commuting a nightmare; going from

point A to point B five kilometres away can easily

take more than an hour. Chennai has a wide railway

network; the Southern Railway already runs the Chennai

suburban railway network and the Chennai Mass Rapid

Transit System (MRTS).


BUSES IN INDIAON TIME, LATE OR JUST NOT THERE!

As of 2011, the road

network in India covered

over 4.3 million kilometres,

making it the country with

the third largest road network in the

world. India has many National

Highways, State Highways, and city

and village roads. Bus travel is

perhaps the most common mode of

travel in India. It is the first choice for

most as it is cheap, quick and easily

available. Frequency is usually good

on most routes as well as its

accessibility to remote areas being

better than other modes of public

transport.


RAILWAYS AND METRO

TRANSPORT ISSUES

MISCELLANEOUS


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NECESSITY OF TRAFFIC POLICE ON INDIAN ROADS

The growing prosperity coupled with the several new

vehicle brands arriving on the market is seeing

Indians more and more eager to get behind the

wheel. Road traffic, which includes pedestrians and

vehicles, is reaching serious proportions with the rapid

increase in the volume of cars and the spiralling population.

With Indias vehicles and population concentrated primarily

in the cities, efficient city traffic management has become a

major challenge for the authorities.


BARRICADES ON ROADSBOON OR BANE?

Usually roads are barricaded to decrease speeding

vehicles. Especially during monsoons, accident

prevention is imperative. The police use these road

blocks to apprehend suspects, inspect traffic and

warn people of incomplete construction work on the roads

or other disruptions to traffic. With the number of blind spots

on Indian roads increasing daily, road engineering has to be

worked upon by the Traffic Police and civic authorities.


INDIAS PLAN FOR RAILWAY OVER-BRIDGES

Over-bridges are bridges that are built over a river, a

road or railway to allow traffic to pass over the top.

As well as ensuring smooth traffic flow, railway over-

bridges are often built to help pedestrians cross rail

tracks. In the absence of such over-bridges, pedestrians

often risk their lives, using level crossing gates to cross over to

the opposite platform or road.


ARE INDIAN AMBULANCES BEING IGNORED?

There are times in our lives when we need urgent

medical care and when even a moments delay

can change a life and when every fraction of a

second can mean the difference between life and

death. In such times ambulances and paramedics play a

crucial role.



Indian Transport Portal is an online

news center covering the most

critical industrial issues related to

transport markets in India.

India Transport Portal is edited by

Digital Bizzline Ltd. a UK based press

agency recently launched by a

group of freelance journalists.

Digital Bizzline Ltd. is registered at the

Companies House UK: 07301455

[email protected]

TYRE & RUBBER INDONESIA

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india transport portal newsletter - march, 2013

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