1. Smart ports, digitization & more! Sagarmala programme to boost India’s coastal economy The Modi government’s Sagarmala programme is strengthening India’s coastal economy like never before! Apart from building new ports, it is also modernizing old ports of the country with a major infrastructural overhaul. According to details shared by the government, as many as 802 projects worth Rs 5.53 lakh crore are part of the Sagarmala programme. So far, a total of 172 projects have been completed already and 235 projects are underway. A new port is being constructed, worth Rs 6,554 crore. With the Sagarmala programme, the digitization of various systems under one common platform has increased efficiency and output as well. Some of the major initiatives and benefits under digitization include the introduction of smart ports in India, transparency and clarity of work, streamlined communication by a web-based system and a paperless regime. Source: Financial Express 2. Bokaro[...]

COST ESCALATION in Infrastructure Project in India Introduction India is aiming to become a $5 trillion economy by the year 2024 and one of the key sectors which act as a stimulus for this growth is the infrastructure sector. Therefore, India plans to spend $1.4 trillion during the period 2019-2023 to achieve the $5-trillion economy goal. The project implementation status report of central sector projects prepared by Infrastructure and Project Monitoring Division, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India during the 1st quarter of 2021-2022 (April-June) shows that central sector projects costing INR 150 crore & above has incurred approx. 20% cost overrun in their approved project cost. This is a significant finding and if this trend continues in the coming years as well, it will result in fiscal losses and will certainly derail India's goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2024. This case study tries to[...]

1. Offshore projects that harness wind, offset rising water, gaining global tractionCurrent offshore technology allows for venturing further into the seas and using wind as a powerful element to generate sustainable energy. • Floating offshore wind turbines are different from bottom-fixed offshore wind turbines • The Windcatcher is a structure that could contain more than a hundred rotors stacked vertically • A floating 3-floor cow farm adjusts to rising sea levels and doesn't need to take up any space on land. An ocean produces more than a breeze. The deeper you venture offshore, the heavier the winds. Source: AME Info2. Budget 21-22: Infrastructure outlay up 34.5% at Rs. 554,000 crore after pandemicUnion Budget 2021-22 has provided capital outlay of Rs. 554,000 crore, an increase of 34.5 percent over Budget Estimate of FY 2020-21, for infrastructure development to boost the economy after SARS CoV-2 pandemic, minister of state for finance Pankaj Chaudhary[...]

1. Gas-based power plants to be allowed in coastal regulation zone in Andaman & Nicobar : COASTAL INFRASTRUCTURESeeking to meet energy requirements of the islanders while reducing the dependency of Andaman & Nicobar Islands on highly polluting diesel-based power generation, the Centre has proposed allowing gas-based power plants within 'Island Coastal Regulation Zone' in bigger islands with geographical areas of more than 100 sq.km The environment ministry has, to this effect, issued two draft notifications. Final decision would be taken on this after mid-January next year after analysing suggestions and views of stakeholders including environmentalists and local residents in the next two months. Source: Times of India2. Comprehensive database under PM GatiShakti to bring in cost efficiencies, competitiveness: Govt : BUSINESS PARKS AND ECONOMIC ZONESTo facilitate the process, capacity building exercise is being conducted by the BISAG-N team with senior-level officers of relevant ministries and departments under Government of India with[...]

Risk management in construction project is an important process of the project planning. Various risks associated with construction projects and when a risk turns into reality it can disrupt a project and it can have a serious impact on costs, schedules, and performance of the project which will lead to delays and disputes down the road. In order to avoid disaster, you need to be able to properly assess, control, and monitor risks once they’ve been identified. Risk management is a process of steps that help identify and migrate the risks for the successful closure of a project. If done correctly and sincerely, risk management will reduce not only the likelihood of an event occurring, but also the magnitude of its impact. In the simplest terms, risk management process is taking preventive actions to avoid and minimize any kind of risk to a project which lead to  Increase market value, increase[...]

1. JNPT to connect with other ports & boost coastal container traffic through new Coastal Berth : COASTAL INFRASTRUCTURE Construction of Coastal Berth: The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust is set to connect with other Indian ports as well as boost coastal container traffic of the country through its newly constructed Coastal Berth. According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, it has a capacity of 1.5 million tonnes per year of liquid cargo as well as 1 million tonnes per year of general cargo. One of the major benefits of the coastal berth’s construction is that it will cater to coastal movement of cement as well as edible oil under the new policy in which a green channel is provided for coastal cargo which is not possible in customs notified area. Source: Financial Express2. Opinion: Coastal states and cost of cyclones : COASTAL INFRASTRUCTUREIndia’s geo-climatic and socioeconomic factors are contributing[...]

1. CDRI to launch infrastructure resilience project for small island nations at COP 26 : COASTAL INFRASTRUCTUREIndia, Australia and UK are likely to pledge 10 million dollars each for the project and other CDRI initiatives. Other countries are also likely to contribute. Japan and US have offered support in kind, mainly in technical expertise. The Coalition of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), a global partnership of 27 countries initiated by India in 2019, will be launching a programme to help small island states develop resilience to climate crisis at the upcoming Glasgow climate change conference COP 26 (October 30 to November 12). Source: Hindustan Times2. G20 Climate Risks: Everything We Know about Climate Change and the Future : COASTAL INFRASTRUCTUREOn the eve of the G20 meeting in Italy, the CMCC Foundation—Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change releases the G20 Climate Risks Atlas. Impacts, policy, economics, a series of country factsheets that summarizes scientific[...]

1. Blue economy policy to minimise conflict areas : COASTAL INFRASTRUCTUREGovernment has committed to create a governance framework that strengthens linkages and minimises conflict between fisheries, transport, environment, mining, tourism and logistics since they all operate in the same coastal area. The desired outcome is for the country to implement a blue economy governance and management system that sustainably maximises economic benefits from marine resources and ensures equitable marine wealth distribution to all Namibians. This is according to Ueritjiua Kauaria, Deputy Executive Director in the fisheries ministry, who spoke on Friday during a consultative workshop in Windhoek for the development of a sustainable blue economy. Source: New Era Live2. Thousands of properties at risk of flooding or erosion due to sea level rises : COASTAL INFRASTRUCTUREParts of Christchurch and Banks Peninsula are likely to become unhabitable as the city council figures out how to adapt to sea level rise. From Friday,[...]

Just after World War II, a pioneering and courageous young Indian woman boarded a ship to England. Her purpose? To study meteorology (weather sciences) at Imperial College London. Anna Mani’s (23rd August 1918 – 16th August 2001) determination to forge her own destiny, coupled with the foresight to study a scientific subject that’s so vital in the modern world, ultimately helped pave the way for meteorological development and progress in India. In the 21st century, the whole world is talking and researching climate change and global warming. India is no exception. Moreover, the country is also looking into the impact of these phenomena on a social problem that’s plagued us for decades – food security. While we have not yet managed to achieve full food security, we are better informed today than we were half a century ago. So we can optimistically hope for a food-secure India sometime in future. And[...]

1. Review mega infrastructure projects in wake of IPCC report: Jairam Ramesh : COASTAL INFRASTRUCTURECongress leader and former Union minister Jairam Ramesh is of the opinion that mega infrastructure projects like the Kozhikode-Wayanad tunnel project or Mumbai Coastal Road project should be reviewed and monitored in the wake of the recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that said that cities like Kochi, Mumbai or Chennai are going to be three feet under the water by the century’s end due to global warming. Source: Times of India2. Dubai to create integrated economic zones authority : BUSINESS PARKS/ ECONOMIC ZONESSheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has issued Law No. (16) of 2021 creating the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority, an independent legal entity with financial and autonomy. According to the new Law, Dubai Airport Free Zone, Dubai Silicon Oasis and Dubai[...]

On 30th September 2021, the World celebrated the 43rd World Maritime Day! I woke up early on that morning thinking that I’ll write a post about it on my LinkedIn and Instagram page with the intention of wishing the Maritime Industry on this auspicious day. But as soon as I logged in, I was subjected to yet another message stating something on the lines of “My name is XYZ, I completed my training from ABC Maritime University, in B-tech Marine course in 2017. I come from a poor family and my parents have taken a hefty loan to complete my education. I have applied to 50 shipping companies but have received no response and now some agent is claiming if I cough up 4 lakh rupees, he will help me join a ship in an ITF company. I am in deep trouble. Please help me sir”. After reading this disquieting message,[...]

1. JNPT set to be the first landlord port : COASTAL INFRASTRUCTURE The publicly governed port authority will function as a regulatory body. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) has picked Crisil Risk and Infrastructure Solutions as transaction advisor for the planned privatisation of the shallow water berth that handles general cargo and the coastal berth dedicated for local cargo movements. The 4.5 million tonne (mt) a year capacity shallow water berth has a length of 445 metres with a depth of 10 metres, and is capable of handling container, cement, general cargo and liquid cargo vessels. Source: The Hindu Businessline 2. India’s Blue Economy – An Ocean Of Opportunities : COASTAL INFRASTRUCTURE On the 2nd of March 2021, the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi inaugurated the Maritime India Summit-2021 virtually, which ranks as one of the world’s biggest virtual summits with the participation of a mind-boggling 0.17 million[...]

Report On Grounding Of M.V. Ever Given In The Suez CanalDISCLAIMER: - This report is based on information available in the public domain through various media resources. Although the information thus obtained could not be verified, the data has largely been cross checked for inconsistencies. Only such data, which appeared reasonable and practical to the author (based on his professional experience and knowledge) has been included. Furthermore, chapters 01 to 05 have been compiled with information available up to vessel departure from Suez.1. SALIENT FEATURES OF THE SUEZ CANALThe 120-mile-long canal, constructed in 1869, connects the Mediterranean in the North with the Red Sea in the South. The canal is managed and operated by the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) since 1956, when the Egyptian government nationalized the Suez Canal Company, which was largely owned by British & French interests. The chairman of SCA is Mr Osama Rabie. Captain Hassanin was on[...]

1. Forget massive seawalls, coastal wetlands offer the best storm protection money can buy : COASTAL INFRASTRUCTURE Coastal communities around the world are facing increasing threats from tropical cyclones. Climate change is causing rising sea levels and bigger, more frequent storms. Many coastal communities are pondering what to do. Should they build massive seawalls in a bid to protect existing infrastructure? Do they give up on their current coastal locations and retreat inland? Or is there another way? Source: The Conversation 2. NASA visualises how sea levels will rise in Indian coastal regions : COASTAL INFRASTRUCTURE IPCC had flagged that sea levels around Asia in the North Indian Ocean have increased faster than the global average, with coastal area loss and shoreline retreat The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its “Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis” report released on August 9 made sea level projections which are based[...]

1. New report details America's water infrastructure cyber vulnerabilities : COASTAL INFRASTRUCTURE Danny Jenkins, CEO and cofounder of the cybersecurity firm ThreatLocker, was terrified when he first heard the details behind a cyberattack on a Florida water treatment plant earlier this year. Officials said hackers exploited an outdated version of Windows in an apparent attempt to poison the water supply for a local community. Jenkins wasn't just alarmed that hackers had successfully managed to gain remote access to the plant's TeamViewer software to jack up levels of sodium hydroxide to a lethal dosage, but that a single operator could potentially tamper with the chemical levels - regardless of whether that person was a hacker or utility employee. Source: FCW 2. Are floating cities a real possibility? : FLOATING STRUCTURES With the world’s population nearing 7.9 billion, and estimates projecting that it will reach 9.7 by 2050, architects and urban planners naturally[...]

1.Policy ignition: India's satellite navigation sector set for higher growth trajectory : INLAND WATERWAYSIndia's satellite based navigation and augmentation service sector appears headed for a higher growth trajectory with the proposed ignition of a policy push towards effective development, operation and maintenance of such systems. The Department of Space (DoS) plans to devise a "comprehensive and substantive" national policy for satellite based Navigation Policy - 2021 (SATNAV Policy - 2021). Its draft has now been hosted on the website of the Indian Space Research of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for public consultation after which it would be placed before the Union Cabinet for final approval. Source: Times Of India2. Coastal flooding risk has doubled since 2000, putting waterfront economies at risk: COASTAL INFRASTRUCTUREAs sea level rises, it can be easy to miss the subtlety of higher water. It’s much harder to overlook saltwater more frequently flooding streets, impeding daily[...]

Hydrologic Models and HEC-HMS Given a spatial unit over the earth’s surface, which is variously known as catchment or watershed or basin, how incident rainfall becomes runoff at the catchment’s outlet -- is probably the most fundamental question to a hydrologist. Hydrologic models (aka Rainfall Runoff Models) are the main tool that has been used by the hydrologists to answer this question quantitatively. A rainfall-runoff model is a simplification of a complex, non-linear, time and space varying hydrological process reality. Over the years many types of hydrologic models have been developed and have been applied to various use cases. In a recently published work by Peters-Lidard et al. (2019), this development has been nicely captured and categorized into following six eras, as depicted in Figure 1. The development of the Hydrologic Modeling Center’s  Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) started in the beginning of the Geoscience Era and it is still continuing in[...]

1.New project seeks to improve understanding of floating PV systems : FLOATING STRUCTURES A joint research project has been established to further develop floating PV power plants under real world conditions over a three-year period. PV2Float is a collaboration between the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, RWE Renewables and the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) and is being funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. The partners will test several floating PV systems with different designs and structures to assess the validity of the technology and its real-world application The potential of floating PV from a theoretical standpoint is in the mid double-digit GW range, according to Fraunhofer. The project will examine the technical requirements, economic efficiency, and the ecological effects of floating PV power plants in Germany. Source: Pv-tech 2. Lack of provision for state maritime board in proposed Indian Ports Bill: Odisha:[...]

A Case Study on The 2021 Uttarakhand Floods Mother Earth needs help. But are we listening to her? Or are we ignoring her, as we have done for years, decades, centuries and millennia? Over the years, anthropogenic activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, fertilizer production, planting N-fixing crops, and wastewater disposal have increased pollution levels to drastic and life-threatening levels. Such activities contribute to climate change by causing the deterioration of natural systems and polluting soil, water, and air – making them a huge threat to the environment, and to global socio-economic stability. Although we can’t completely eliminate these activities, we can reduce the pace of degradation and restore our Mother Earth – but only if we act now. To encourage countries all over the world to adopt such an approach, the United Nations has declared 2021-2030 as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The International Union for Conservation[...]

1. Hitachi ABB & BW Ideol to Take Offshore Wind Power to Next Level: FLOATING STRUCTURES Switzerland-headquartered technology company Hitachi ABB Power Grids announced today that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with BW Ideol, a pioneer in floating offshore wind, to accelerate delivering a market-ready floating substation offering and solution to global customers. Floating offshore wind is considered to be the next big frontier in offshore wind power. By some estimates, installed capacity of floating offshore wind installations is forecast to grow from a modest 66 MW in 2019 to at least 6.2 GW in 2030 as more and more countries in Europe, Asia and North America seek to harness the rich potential of deep-water wind resources. Source: Saur Energy International 2. In Search of the Sea: Opening India’s Northeast to the Bay of Bengal : INLAND WATERWAYS India’s northeast region has for long been underdeveloped and its strategic[...]

1. Hussain Sagar to regain pristine glory: FLOATING STRUCTURES Buoyed by the success of a floating boom barrier in Picket Nala to arrest the flow of trash into Hussain Sagar Lake, Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) is now working on setting up four automated trash collection systems to prevent waste flowing into the lake. Last year, the HMDA, as part of intensified Hussain Sagar conservation efforts, had installed a floating boom barrier in Picket nala. For the pilot project, HMDA roped in DESMI, a Denmark-based company dealing with marine cleaning issues, for the purpose. As part of the agreement with HMDA and for pilot demonstration, DESMI installed the boom barrier-free of cost. Source: Telangana Today 2. Germany’s Autobahn: Dream or nightmare? : INLAND WATERWAYS The German Autobahn is every lead foot’s dream. No speed limit, where you can really let rip. That is the cliché anyway. The reality? Traffic jam after[...]

1. Launch of World’s most powerful tidal turbine: FLOATING STRUCTURES The world's most powerful tidal turbine has taken the next step towards deployment in the Orkney Islands, an archipelago off the north-eastern coast of Scotland and home to some of the strongest tidal currents across the globe. Constructed by Scottish engineering company Orbital Marine Power, the so-called Orbital O2 will ultimately be connected to the local electricity grid to help provide clean and sustainable energy to the communities of Orkney. The Orbital O2 was developed and constructed with partial support from the EU-funded FloTEC and OCEANERA-NET COFUND projects. With its construction completed, the turbine was launched from the Port of Dundee on 22 April 2021 and arrived in Orkney waters 2 days later. The Orbital O2 was towed to Orkney by the C-Force, a 27.7-m multiact vessel belonging to Orbital's project supplier Leask Marine. Source: Tech Explore 2. Cisco digitising select[...]

Drought Declaration: Eka Infra United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) characterizes drought as “a complex and slowly encroaching natural hazard with significant and pervasive socio-economic and environmental impacts, is known to cause more deaths and displace more people than any other natural disaster”. As per the estimate by UNCCD, 1.8 billon people will experience absolute water scarcity, and 2/3 of the world will be living under water-stressed conditions by 2025.The World Meteorological Organization’s publication titled, “Drought monitoring and early warning: concepts, progress and future challenges” (WMO-No. 1006) has defined drought as “an insidious natural hazard characterized by lower than expected or lower than normal precipitation that, when extended over a season or longer period of time, is insufficient to meet the demands of human activities and the environment”.The varied agro-climatic context of Indian agriculture and its general dependence on monsoon rains makes it particularly vulnerable to droughts. Given this context,[...]

1. A new hurricane-resistant floating solar farm could help replace fossil fuel: FLOATING STRUCTURES A new solar power platform is making waves in the way we think about renewable energy, advancing a novel form of offshore floating arrays. Called the "Demonstrator," the platform was recently towed upriver in the Netherlands to simulate some of the wind and water stresses of being out at the open sea, and it passed with flying colors. While the ideal environs for SolarDuck's creation are cities and islands near the equator (where there's less wind for wind power), the next Demonstrator variant "can withstand hurricane forces" experienced in and around Bermuda and Florida, explained CTO Don Hoogendoorn of SolarDuck, in a video interview with Interesting Engineering. Source: Interesting Engineering 2. Waterways are set to be the new highways in our future: NAREDCO President : INLAND WATERWAYS   If we were to say transportation is to the[...]

1. Eco-Friendly Concrete Solutions for the Protection of Marine and Coastal Infrastructure: Coastal Infrastructure The adverse effect that human activity is having on the planet is becoming more apparent each day. Ecological damage is one of the most pressing issues that world leaders and companies seek to address at the moment. Finding sustainable solutions for marine and coastal infrastructure is one issue that is of particular concern to governments and companies worldwide. Luckily, there are companies providing these solutions at the moment, and one of them is ECOncrete. It is estimated that around 40% of the world's population lives within 100 km of a coastline, and this is predicted to grow further over the coming years. Three billion people worldwide rely on marine and coastal ecosystems for food, building materials, and agricultural and recreation areas. This leaves a significant and growing proportion of humans vulnerable to intensifying climate-change-related extreme weather events,[...]

Air Pollution Emissions Audit Services in IndiaAir pollution in India is a growing health issue and environmental problem. Some of the most polluted cities in the world, are found in India, where millions of people breathe air that often exceeds the World Health Organisation air quality guidelines for human health and social wellbeing. Of the world's most polluted 30 cities, 22 are in India, according to research by IQ AirVisual, a Swiss-based group that gathers air-quality data globally, and Greenpeace.It has been estimated that more than 51% of the air pollution is generated from industrial processes, with the other significant pollutant emitter being motor vehicles, particularly in urban areas.  India’s poor air quality contributes to the premature deaths of many people every year, and significantly impacts the Indian economy. Unless action is taken the situation will deteriorate further. The current situation is not sustainable.Greater control and audit of India’s industrial processes is[...]

1. The silent rise of India’s private ports In August 2020, Karan Adani, chief executive officer of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) and scion to the Adani group, informed stock analysts on an earnings call that his flagship port—Mundra, in the gulf of Kutch—had become the busiest port in the country. After nipping at the heels of its closest competitor for container traffic, JNPT (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust) at Navi Mumbai, for the last few years, Mundra finally pulled ahead in the first quarter of FY21, staging a faster recovery from the covid slump than the central government controlled JNPT could. Since then, Mundra has repeated this feat every subsequent month, consistently widening the gap in container volumes between itself and JNPT. At the end of FY21, 7.22 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units, a measure of container cargo capacity) had passed through Mundra, 16% higher than the previous year.[...]

Key Infrastructure Challenges to Smart Cities of IndiaThe best way to assess the growth of a city is to pursue a holistic approach that evaluates multiplefactors, including its urbanisation level, social fabric, environmental health, and economic growthincluding the scope and breadth of its community welfare efforts. So naturally, future growthopportunities depend on the ability of decision-makers to optimally harness all these elements.Smart Cities in India are being developed by the Smart Cities Mission under the Ministry of Housingand Urban Affairs, Government of India. As there is no universal definition of a “Smart City”, eachcity and country comes up with their own definition, meaning and goals. However, what isuniversally accepted is that a Smart City is a holistic ecosystem of various communities. India’s Smart Cities and the City Challenge India has identified 100 cities that have the potential to be transformed into Smart cities, under the umbrella of a contest called “City[...]

1. Current fiscal 'most challenging' for Indian Railways: Piyush Goyal During the lockdown, all services of the railways had come to a grinding halt and even now, only special trains are plying Acknowledging that this fiscal was the "most challenging" for Indian Railways, Minister Piyush Goyal said it was time to rewrite the future of the national transporter as "self-sustaining, punctual, green and first choice of business". At a review meeting with Railway Board members and general managers of zonal railways, Goyal said in the future, the success of Indian Railways would define the success of the nation. Source: Business Standard 2. China to add 30 civil airports, more railways and highways in 5 years To meet its 14th Five-Year Plan goals, China plans to construct 30 civil airports, 3,000 kilometers of railways, as well as 25,000 kilometers of highways in the next five years, shaping a strong domestic transport network[...]

National Safety Week Campaign at Eka InfraThis year, from 4th March to 10th March 2021, India celebrated 50th National Safety Week.The theme of this year’s event was Learn from Disaster and Prepare for a Safer Future.Since 4th March 1972, National Safety Day has marked the establishment of the National Safety Council (NSC), headquartered in Belapur, Maharashtra. The NSC is a Public Trust entrusted with the responsibility of spreading safety awareness among the people of India.This year marked the 50th Birth Anniversary of this landmark organisation that has made a tangible difference in improving India’s safety posture.“Safety work is today recognised as an economic necessity. It is the study of the right way to do things." – Robert W. Campbell, first president of the National Safety Council.Eka Infra also celebrated National Safety Week!From 4th to 10th March 2021, we commemorated this special occasion at two locations: Gopalpur Port, Odisha and our Head office[...]