Cement, Energy and Environment

1 Synergy chairman and managing director Sankey Prasad. The report also said that the present time is appropriate for those wanting to invest either in their "dream house" or commercial property, as RBI estimates prices to increase by nearly 50%. "Investment in real estate now would be timely and save the buyer the pangs of acquisition, compounded by inflationary trends," said Sankey Prasad. Additionally, without proper project management practices delivery of the project may be delayed. This is likely to increase the overall cost construction. Courtesy: The Financial Express, Chennai, February 15, 2013 CONCRETE ROADS BEST FOR CITIES, SAYS DELHI METRO'S SREEDHARAN Concrete roads offer about the only salvation for users in a State annually visited by two full– fledged monsoons. This is how E. Sreedharan, Member, State Planning Board, and principal adviser to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, sees it. Water Seepage Bitumen roads develop potholes primarily due to water seepage and lack of proper sewage. "Concrete roads are best for cities," says Sreedharan. But planning is needed and the utility lines will have to be shifted in time since digging would need to be avoided on built-up roads". An experimental white-top concrete road for Kochi is I proposed to consist of a mix of fly ash, polymeric fibre, cement and sand. Funding Issue White toppling is 200-250 per cent higher than for ordinary bitumen road construction, Sreedharan said. For the PWD, however, it will be a one-time investment. But mobilization of funds propped up the biggest hurdle in front of any serious move to attempt the transition to concrete roads. But being relatively maintenance free, they eliminated the need for frequent traffic shutdowns for subsequent repairs. Concrete roads are less vulnerable to water seepage or oil/lubricant spillage. The surface offers better skid resistance also. Less Fuel Goods carriers consume 15-20 per cent less fuel when compared driving on bituminous roads. Concrete pavements also bring down vehicle running costs by 10-15 per cent, Sreedharan said. It is less polluting, too, he said, citing the example of Delhi-Agra Yamuna Expressway. Meanwhile, a subcommittee of the State planning board headed by Sreedharan has recommended concretization of roads here. This may be tried out in stretches where major upgradation is taken up or where new roads are being constructed , Sreedharan said. Courtesy: The Hindu Business Line, 04-03-2013 Sustainable Infrastructure GOVT INKS $252-M PACT WITH ADB FOR NEW ROADS Multi-lateral body Asian Development Bank (ADS) will extend a $ 252 million (over Rs 1367 crore) loan for development of rural roads in Assam, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal. "The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India today signed a $ 252 million loan to continue improving rural roads in the states of Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal," an official statement said. million financing facility under Rural Connectivity Investment Programme, it added. This will enable construction of 3,461 kilometres of all-weather rural roads in the five states, benefiting nearly 1,600 rural habitations, it said. The loan agreement was signed by Nilaya Mitash, Joint Secretary (Multilateral Institutions), Department of Economic Affairs and Hun Kim, ADS Country Director Of India. "The provision of all-weather roads in rural areas is a crucial investment that will improve access to markets, district headquarters, health and education facilities , and other centres of The loan amount is the first tranche of $ 800 economic activity," Mitash said. 4 1