Road Ministry Introduces Rating System for Consultancy Firms: Improving DPR Quality, ET Infra
By ,
ETInfra
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is set to implement a new rating system for consultancy firms responsible for preparing detailed project reports (DPRs) for road construction.This move comes as the Union Road Transport and Highways Minister, Nitin Gadkari , recently voiced strong disappointment over the subpar quality of DPRs.The ministry has issued an office memorandum inviting public comments on the proposed concept note for this new rating system. A DPR serves as a comprehensive blueprint for any road construction project, detailing all necessary technical, financial, and logistical aspects for its successful execution.In a separate office memorandum, MoRTH also sought public feedback on proposed amendments to the Request for Proposal (RFP) for appointing consultancy services specifically for the preparation of DPRs for national highways and centrally sponsored road works.This dual approach by the ministry underscores a concerted effort to enhance accountability and improve the overall standard of project planning in India's critical road infrastructure sector.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
Sabarimala airport: State govt submits DPR to Centre
T'puram: State govt submitted the detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed Sabarimala international airport at Cheruvally, near Pathanamthitta, to Union ministry of civil aviation, in line with Centre's July 12 deadline. A final review meeting, convened specifically to seek chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan's in-principle approval for forwarding the report to Centre, cleared the DPR on July 2. The meeting was attended by chief principal secretary to chief minister K M Abraham, special officer for Sabarimala airport project V Thulasidas and transport (aviation) secretary Biju K. According to the DPR presented before the chief minister, the proposed greenfield airport will feature a 3,500-m runway along with a 3,500-m taxi track. The airport's apron is designed to accommodate a mix of aircraft types — either two Code E and three Code C aircraft or up to seven Code C aircraft simultaneously. The terminal design includes two multiple apron ramp system aerobridges capable of handling either four Code C or two Code E aircraft simultaneously. Boeing 777-300ER (Code E), a long-range wide-body aircraft, was selected as the reference design aircraft, indicating the airport's capacity to handle large international flights. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Successful Way of Intraday Trading is "Market Profile" TradeWise Learn More Undo The terminal infrastructure is designed to handle significant traffic volumes. The proposed passenger terminal building will have a built-up area of 54,000sq m and an annual handling capacity of 7 million passengers. The DPR also includes plans for a dedicated 1,200sq m cargo terminal for freight handling. A total of 2,408 acres will be needed for the airport project. Of this, 950 acres will be owned by the proposed airport company and will cover the operational area. An additional 400 acres will be commercially leased to the company for development. Govt will retain the remaining land for allied infrastructure, support services and other public purposes linked to the airport's functioning. The estimated construction cost, excluding land acquisition expenses, is Rs 5,377 crore. The cost of acquiring land — including expenses related to resettlement and rehabilitation of affected families — is estimated at Rs 2,408 crore. Thus total project cost, considering only the land earmarked for operational use, is projected at Rs 7,047 crore. The financial model is based on a debt-equity ratio of 1.22:1. The internal rate of return (IRR) for the overall project is estimated at 15.31%, while the equity IRR — a key indicator for potential investors — is projected at 15.71%. Union ministry of civil aviation will now examine the proposal for in-principle approval. If cleared, Sabarimala airport would become Kerala's fifth international airport, joining the ranks of Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode and Kannur. State govt believes the airport will significantly reduce travel time and congestion during Sabarimala pilgrimage season and also bring long-term economic benefits to the Pathanamthitta-Kottayam-Idukki belt. Meanwhile, as part of pre-implementation steps, revenue department initiated a field survey for acquiring land for the airport. Govt set a target of completing the field survey within four months.
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
UER-II, Airport Tunnel, NE-5: 3 Big Projects Likely To Ease Delhi Traffic By 2026
Last Updated: Key projects include the extension of Urban Extension Road-II, a road tunnel from Dwarka Expressway to Nelson Mandela Road, and the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway extension Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has unveiled a major plan to ease traffic congestion in Delhi. The initiative is designed to save commuting time and reduce pollution levels. Work is underway on three major projects, all of which are expected to be completed by 2026. The three key projects include the extension of the Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II), a road tunnel from Dwarka Expressway to Nelson Mandela Road, and the extension of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway (NE-5). All three projects are progressing rapidly, with an estimated total cost of around Rs 9,100 crore. Extension of Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) The UER-II will connect Alipur in Delhi to the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway (NH-709B) near Tronica City in Ghaziabad. This 17 km road will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 3,350 crore. It will offer an alternative route for vehicles travelling from Haryana and Rajasthan to Dehradun, thereby reducing traffic pressure on the Ring Road and NH-44. The project is expected to be completed by 2026. Tunnel from Dwarka Expressway to Nelson Mandela Marg Extension of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway (NE-5) This extension will connect the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway to the Urban Extension Road-II (NH-344M) across Delhi and Haryana. The 20 km stretch is expected to cost Rs 2,500 crore and will benefit commuters travelling to Delhi, Gurugram, and the airport. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) is scheduled for completion by September–October 2025, with the construction deadline set for 2026. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Indian Express
Bengaluru Hebbal–Silk Board tunnel road may add to traffic snarls, add 22 gridlock situations: Detailed Project Report
The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Bengaluru's ambitious Hebbal–Silk Board underground tunnel has indicated that fewer vehicles are expected to use the corridor in a no-toll scenario than in one where tolls are levied, both towards the city and the airport, suggesting more traffic congestion with tolls. This anomaly, revealed through a review of the traffic projections for the proposed 16.75 km tunnel, has raised eyebrows about the integrity of the demand modelling used to justify the project's viability. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar had earlier emphasised that 'without toll, the tunnel road project will not work.' The numbers defy logic, say mobility experts, who argue that tolling infrastructure generally reduces traffic volumes, as price-sensitive daily commuters, especially those heading into the city, tend to avoid toll roads. According to the final DPR prepared by Rodic Consultants for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the number of vehicles (measured in Passenger Car Units or PCUs) projected during the morning peak hour in 2031 is 34,796 in a no-toll scenario. However, if toll is charged, the number drops to 33,057 PCUs (Scenario 2), and even further to 32,304 PCUs in Scenario 3 (alternative alignment with toll). DPR forecasts higher or similar volumes in toll scenarios, especially airport-bound trips in 2041, where Scenario 2 surprisingly shows more traffic than the no-toll scenario. In the morning peak hour projections for 2031, DPR estimates that 19,932 PCUs will travel towards the city and 14,864 PCUs towards the airport in a no-toll scenario, adding to 34,796 PCUs. However, in the toll-based Scenario 2, these numbers drop to 18,731 PCUs towards the city and 14,326 towards the airport at 33,057 PCUs. Scenario 3, another toll-aligned option, shows an even lower 18,405 PCUs city-bound and 13,899 PCUs towards the airport, totalling 32,304 PCUs. The pattern remains similar in 2041, with the no-toll scenario projecting 26,215 PCUs towards the city and 19,489 towards the airport (at 45,704 PCUs), compared to Scenario 2's 24,949 city-bound and 19,994 airport-bound PCUs (total: 44,943), and Scenario 3's 24,809 city-bound and 19,664 airport-bound PCUs (total: 44,473). DPR also proposes a toll of Rs 330 (one-way) for a distance of 16 km. The report also highlights that tolls for subsequent years are calculated based on a 5 per cent annual increase in the wholesale price index, with a 40 per cent restriction. Additionally, DPR also warns of at least 22 gridlock situations at entry and exit ramps if ramp capacities are not adequately designed or if traffic management is not strengthened. Some of the potential gridlock locations include the Chalukya Circle, Race Course Road junction, Minerva Circle, Cauvery Junction, Lalbagh West Gate, and other areas. The report recommends the need for additional slip lanes and turning lanes, signal optimisation and real-time monitoring systems. Satya Arikutharam, an urban mobility expert, said, 'BBMP's Tunnel Road proposal upends economic theory. Its traffic analysis outputs suggest that more cars will use the Tunnel Road facility when tolled. The entire transport modelling work is flawed, and the all-important modal share is just arbitrarily lifted from the old Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP). The DPR is flawed and unreliable, and I do not expect any credible bids for the tender.' Rajkumar Dugar, convenor, Citizens4Citizens forum, said, 'The tunnel road project is likely to do the exact opposite of what it promises. Any minor gain from commuting at an average speed of 50 kmph inside the tunnel will be almost entirely wiped out at the entry and exit points. Worse, it will create traffic chaos for those who aren't even using the tunnel. If the goal is truly to free up the roads, what's needed is a serious push for public transport — buses, metro, suburban rail and more.' Sanath Prasad is a senior sub-editor and reporter with the Bengaluru bureau of Indian Express. He covers education, transport, infrastructure and trends and issues integral to Bengaluru. He holds more than two years of reporting experience in Karnataka. His major works include the impact of Hijab ban on Muslim girls in Karnataka, tracing the lives of the victims of Kerala cannibalism, exploring the trends in dairy market of Karnataka in the aftermath of Amul-Nandini controversy, and Karnataka State Elections among others. If he is not writing, he keeps himself engaged with badminton, swimming, and loves exploring. ... Read More
