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India.com
30 minutes ago
- India.com
Free Trade or Colonial Bias? After India-UK FTA, Homegrown Liquor Makers Accuse British Market Of Discriminating Against Indian Brands
New Delhi: The ink was barely dry on the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) when a new unease began brewing, not in trade offices, but in the distilleries of India. A growing number of Indian liquor companies say they are feeling left out and locked out. While the FTA has opened India's gates wider for British gin and Scotch with reduced import duties, the doors to the U.K. market, they claim, remain unfairly barricaded for Indian-made spirits. At the center of the anger is the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC), a body that speaks for India's local liquor manufacturers. According to its Director General Anant S Iyer, what India removed in tariff walls, the United Kingdom has maintained in 'non-tariff barriers', rules that may not show up in price charts but block access all the same. 'The United Kingdom and even the European Union (EU) do not allow fair imports of most Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) products into their markets due to non-tariff barriers related to maturation and ingredients. We only wish that the Indian government had stood firm on the issue of non-tariff barriers,' he said. The bone of contention is the UK's strict definition of what can be sold as whisky. The British standard mandates that whisky must be matured for a minimum of three years. This rule is applied to both domestic and imported spirits. But Iyer says what works in cold European cellars does not work in the Indian climate. 'In India, the maturation is much faster due to the tropical climate. If we keep it for three years, we lose almost one-third of the spirit to evaporation. That is a financial loss. It also changes the flavour profile. It is a punishment for making whisky in a warmer land,' he explained. Because of the three-year rule, Indian whiskies that mature faster due to heat are disqualified from calling themselves 'whisky' under British law. Instead, they must be labelled as 'Indian spirits', a description that, Iyer says, cuts them off from mainstream whisky shelves and consumer attention in the United Kingdom and Europe. 'We want to be allowed to call it Indian Whisky or Indian Rum or Indian Brandy. Let consumers decide. Let the market decide. Right now, we are kept out simply because we do not age our spirits in cold basements,' he added. The CIABC has now urged the Indian government to actively pursue the matter with the United Kingdom. They argue that without reciprocal access for Indian products, the billion-dollar export vision for the Indian liquor industry will remain out of reach. 'The government has set an ambitious target of achieving $1 billion in exports from the Indian alcobev (alcoholic beverage) industry by 2030. However, without ensuring proper market access, it will be difficult to meet this target. Though Indian whiskies, rum, gins, wines, etc. have been winning accolades globally, the lack of removal of non-tariff barriers and absence of reciprocal market access will make this export target hard to achieve,' Iyer said. There is also growing concern about what is flowing into India. While British spirits are now allowed in at lower duties, Indian manufacturers fear that Scotch whisky and other bottled-in-origin (BIO) liquors may soon dominate Indian shelves by being routed through third countries at cut prices, hurting the premium Indian market before it even matures. To counter this, the CIABC has recommended that the Indian government fix a Minimum Import Price (MIP) on such foreign products. 'The government has incorporated MIP in the India-UK FTA on rum, brandy and other liquor products. The only exception on this count being Scotch Whisky/other whiskies/Gin originating from the United Kingdom,' Iyer added. He urged the government to monitor billing data and use technology to trace each bottle from port to shelf. 'We hope the government will ensure that Scotch whisky and other BIO spirits are not dumped in India at low import prices or routed through any other country at cheaper rates. This will hurt the growth of premium and luxury Indian brands,' he said. For now, India's liquor makers are pouring their hopes into diplomatic channels. Their demands include recognition, fairness and a level playing field. 'We do not want favours. We just want the right to sell our products under the names they deserve,' Iyer concluded.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Rs25,567Cr Mobility Plan To Ease Nagpur Gridlock
Nagpur: After months of deliberation and consultations with stakeholders, the much-anticipated ₹25,567-crore Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) for the Nagpur Metropolitan Region (NMR) has entered its final stage before implementation. The latest and most detailed version of the plan was presented on Sunday to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union minister Nitin Gadkari, Nagpur guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, and representatives from 16 departments during the third and concluding stakeholder meeting. Officials from Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), MahaMetro, Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT), traffic police, and the district collectorate were present at the meeting held at Metro Bhawan. The CMP, jointly prepared by MahaMetro and RITES, aims to streamline mobility, reduce congestion, and build long-term transport infrastructure for the region, which spans 3,780 sq. km and has a population of over 43.7 lakh. The final version of the plan reflects a significant budget hike of nearly ₹7,000 crore compared to the previous draft, indicating the inclusion of several new infrastructure components and upgrades pegged at ₹18,585 crore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 10 Signs Your Dog Loves You More Than Anything Liseer Read More Undo Divided into three phases, the CMP allocates ₹13,927 crore for Phase 1, ₹10,774 crore for Phase 2, and ₹865 crore for Phase 3. A major addition in the latest draft is the proposed 148-km six-lane peripheral ring road, estimated at ₹3,700 crore. This key project, forming part of Phase 2, will act as a regional bypass connecting major highways including NH-44, NH-47, NH-353, NH-53, and the Samruddhi Mahamarg, thereby diverting heavy traffic away from the city core. "Urbanisation is increasing rapidly, especially in areas like the Mihan and Koradi-Kamptee belt. The road and transport infrastructure must be upgraded accordingly. All agencies must act swiftly on the final plan," said Gadkari. The plan focuses heavily on five core areas — non-motorised transport (NMT) facilities, mobility management, public transport, freight infrastructure, and road upgrades. These areas encompass 20 specific sectors, such as electric buses, intelligent traffic systems, flyovers, underpasses, off-street parking, and pedestrian-friendly pathways. The CMP also proposes restrictions on the movement of long-distance commercial vehicles within city limits from 7am to 9pm, relocation of godowns from the core city area, and promotion of smaller, low-emission cargo vehicles in inner zones. Four freight terminals are planned: Automotive Chowk and Kapsi in Phase 1, Gumgaon in Phase 2, and Gondkhairi in Phase 3 — each estimated at ₹20 crore. "To shape the growing expansion of the Nagpur metropolis, we will implement the mobility plan in three phases. I appeal to citizens and public representatives to share their suggestions, so the plan becomes more people-oriented," Fadnavis said during the meeting. Officials confirmed that a 15-day window has been opened for final suggestions or modifications from participating departments. The DPR, once ready, will be submitted to the state and then to the central government for final approval, after which it will be implemented on the ground. The first mobility plan for Nagpur city was prepared in 2013 by the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT). It was revised by MahaMetro in July 2018 and updated again with wider inputs through meetings chaired by the divisional commissioner. Infographics: Cost (₹ Cr) NMT Facility Improvement Plan Footpath (1.5–2 m wide)...................Km.........................156.................................131 NMV Lane (2–2.3 m wide)..................Km.........................139.5..............................116.9 At Grade Pedestrian Grade Separated Mobility Management Measures Automatic Off-Street Intelligent Traffic Mgmt Public Bicycle Sharing (PBS)...............Location..................120..................................24 Intersection Public Transport Improvement Plan High Capacity Medium Capacity Electric Bus Terminal New Bus Railway Station Freight Infrastructure Improvement Freight Road Improvement Projects Road Widening (2/4 lanes)..................Km.......................137.1...............................393.5 New Roads (4-lane C/W)....................Km.........................15.6................................89.5 Rail Over Bridges (4-lane)...................Nos............................7..................................200 Flyovers / Peripheral Ring Road (6-lane).............Km.........................148...............................3,700 Total……………………………………………………………………………………….25,567
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Metro Phase 3: Sitabuldi to Koradi Corridor Finalised in Rs8,625-Cr CMP Expansion
1 2 Nagpur: Even as works under Metro Phase 2 continue at a rapid pace across the city and it's outskirts, Nagpurkars can look forward to the next big leap, which is 'Metro Phase 3'. A new metro corridor between Sitabuldi and Koradi has been finalised as part of the recently presented Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP), confirmed senior MahaMetro officials after a high-level stakeholder meeting held on Sunday in the presence of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union minister Nitin Gadkari among others. The CMP, prepared by MahaMetro in collaboration with RITES, outlines the development of mass rapid transit corridors in the Nagpur Metropolitan Region based on traffic density, projected ridership, and future mobility needs. There is also a proposal for a Metro Phase IV, though the route has not been revealed yet. Among the key proposals in CMP Phase 1 are two High Capacity MRTS Corridors — the 11.5 km Sitabuldi–Koradi corridor and the 25km Mankapur Chowk–Rachana Junction stretch on the Inner Ring Road. Together, they are estimated to cost Rs8,625 crore. Of the two, the Sitabuldi–Koradi line was prioritised for development of the metro route. "We have finalised the Sitabuldi–Koradi corridor based on Peak Hour Peak Direction Traffic (PHPDT) assessments. The ridership projections and traffic volumes make it feasible for metro operations," said a senior MahaMetro official. The proposed corridor is expected to cater to a daily ridership of 1.47 lakh commuters by 2054. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Are Houses In Dubai So Cheap? Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Undo The Sitabuldi-Koradi metro line will diverge from the Kasturchand Park station, and will comprise underground sections also. While details such as the number of stations, alignment, and exact route are yet to be finalised, officials said that once the ongoing 15-day window for suggestions from all concerned departments ends, work on preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) will begin. Tenders will be floated subsequently based on the DPR findings. On the other hand, the 25km Mankapur Chowk–Rachana Junction corridor was also identified as a potential high-capacity transit corridor. However, instead of immediately extending metro services, the plan currently involves deploying articulated buses along this route. "We will study the performance of bus operations on this corridor. Based on the data collected and demand observed, necessary modifications in the mobility plan will be made in future phases," the official added. The CMP was designed keeping the horizon year 2030 in mind and includes projections extending up to 2054. It aims to create a sustainable and integrated transport network to support the region's rapid urban expansion. The inclusion of the Sitabuldi–Koradi line is a response to the growing residential and institutional developments towards Koradi, along with the high commuting demand. Another MahaMetro official also confirmed that during the meeting, CM Fadnavis asked officials to begin work on developing a financial model for the CMP. "Fadnavis pointed out that while the vision is clear, the financing and revenue generation model should also be added in the CMP. He has directed us to prepare a model outlining funding sources, investment recovery strategies, and ways to ensure long-term sustainability of the proposed infrastructure," the official said. With Metro Phase 3 taking shape and CMP inching closer to final approval, Nagpur is on track to emerge as a model city for multi-modal urban mobility.
