Transport, communication and Trade Flashcards
Importance of Bharatmala: intro?
- 54.8L km long road network- 2nd largest in world
- However, 45% of traffic carried by only 2% of this i.e. NH
- In this context, Bharatmala project-a centrally sponsored and highways development project was launched that focuses on optimizing efficiency of freight and passenger movement across the country by bridging critical infrastructure gaps through effective interventions like development of Economic Corridors, Inter Corridors and Feeder Routes, National Corridor Efficiency Improvement, Border and International connectivity roads, Coastal and Port connectivity roads and Green-field expressways.
Importance of Bharatmala: Map? Components (BOX)?
components of Bharatmala Pariyojana are
- Development of Economic corridors – 9,000 Kms
- Inter-corridor & feeder roads – 6,000 Kms
- Improving the efficiency of National Corridors – 5,000 Kms
- Border & International connectivity roads – 2,000 Kms
- Coastal & port connectivity roads – 2,000 Kms
- Expressways – 800 Kms
- Balance of NHDP works – 10000 Kms
Importance of Bharatmala: significance?
- Revitalise Development: by improving connectivity in farflung areas and rural areas, bringing them into the mainstream economy
- Reenergize economic activities: will augment revenue generating activities esp trade, export. The positive role of domestic transport for economic growth has been confirmed by a large number of empirical studies (Donaldson and Hornbeck,2016).
- Case study: BP component for NE: NE EC will connect 7 state capitals and 7 multi-modal waterways terminals on river BP-Dhubri, Silghat, Biswanathghat, Numati, Dibrugarh, Sungajan, Oriyamghat
- Tool of regional planning and reducing regional disparity:
- will strengthen functional linkage inducing ‘Spread effect’. econ growth will spread out and cultural and innovation diffusion fem growth pole to neighboring region
- The feeder route and other ancillary roads connecting the major growth centres with Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities will transform the latter into secondary growth centres, therby dispersing the growth
- ensure vertical and horizontal unity across the nation, leadin to comprehensive development
- National security and geostrategic implications: improved transport infra in border states; esp considering China’s rapidly developing infra on other side
- Increase in social capital: flow of labor, capital, skills, goods and services- ensure linking and bridging amon people, generating trust and sociocapital
Importance of Bharatmala:
- BP is both enabler and beneficiary of other schemes-Sagarmala, DFC, UDAN-RCS, Make in INdia, Digital India etc.
- timely and successful implementation of BP is imp to achieve SDG-8, SDG9 and SDG10.
implications of BRI for INdia-China relations: intro?
Formerly known as OBOR, China’s BRI is an ambitious programme to connect Asia with Africa and Europe via land and maritime networks along six corridors with the aim of improving regional integration, increasing trade and stimulating economic growth. However, frm India’s perspective, it is a Geostrategic initiative to expand China’s political ‘Spheer of Influence’ using its economic might and employing ‘debt trap’ to influence minor nations across eurasia and Africa.
It has two components: Belt” refers to the overland routes for road and rail transportation, called “the Silk Road Economic Belt”; whereas “road” refers to the sea routes, or the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
implications of BRI for INdia-China relations: map and theory?
manifestation of Spykman’s rimland theory where China, on account of its advantage of access to land as well as sea is trying to control Eurasia and subsequently the rest of the world.
implications of BRI for INdia-China relations: impact on Indo-China relations?
- Heightened Mistrust: passin of CPEC through PoK isan attack on its sovereignty and territorial integrity
- Security issue: Maritime Silk road is a garb to build a ‘String of Pearl’ around India, breaching India’s Iron curtain in IOR, increasing China’s hold in India’s neighborhood.
- INdo-China relation wrt Africa and Central Asia: china’s Sphere of influence vis-a-vis india in the resource rich region of africa and central Asia
- Trade relation: expected not to be impacted ,as has been stated by China during 2nd B&R Forum,2019. however, India joining BRI, in all likelihood, will further worsen her 60Bn$ Trade deficit with China
- Though some possible positives also there, as projects like BCIM corridor will increase India’s functional linkage with her neighbours, boosting trade and transport. however, Negatives outweigh positives, as of now.
implications of BRI for INdia-China relations: conclusion?
- India’s stratgy to conter China’s BRI:
- To counter china’s strength in infrastr diplomacy, India is builidng AsiaAfrica growth corridor, in partnership with japan
- INSTC for Central asia
- need to be guided by Wuhan spirit rather than entrenching their respective positions.
KRA canal: intro and map?
KRA canal ot Thai canal is a proposed manmade waterway through KRA isthumus to connect SCS with Andman sea
eliminates the need to transitthe highly crowded and piracy prone Malacca strait, Sunda strait or Lombak strait
KRA canal: potential benefits?
- share some buren of Malacca strait, which is projected to exceed its max capacity of 122000 ships by 2020
- (BOX) trade through Malacca strait: 33% of global trade; >90% of Japan and S. Korea’s energy needs; 80% china’s oil import; 17% of world’s oil production passes everyday
- potential to revitalise econ of Thailand, cambodia, Loas, Vietnam, Myanmar an SL by increased facilitation of sea shipments, trade, constr of ind an logistics along the routes which will create Exogenous Growth and Basic City Forming economy dev
- Small growth centres and integrated settlements led multiplier effect can create sustainable income (SDG-1), help in improving food security (SDG2+3). The connected regions can experience vertical and horizontal unity by creation of Kra canal
- Strategically for INdia, it can enhance India’s Act east plolicy and her goal of grater engagement with SE Asia.
Kra canal:challenges?
- engg challenge of digging and excavation: Nalay Peninsula is only 26.5 miles at its narrowest point (betnKra river estuary to bay of Sawi). However, this part is dominated by long Granitic mountainous ridge (Tenasserim hills)
- Geopolitical challenge: opposed by many experts because:
- acc to WB estimate, Singapore could lose 30-50% of its shipping traffic
- In addition to boosting its OBOR initiative, China may influence local auhorities and create its naval base betn SCS and IO
- It can hurt Thailand’s tourism ind (generates 40% of its revenues) and damage its localflora and fauna.
- Additional cncern of Thaialnd is that will divide Thailand physically into 2 parts, which might create problems later
Kra canal: conclusions?
India will need to improve her port capacity and facilities, otherwise and opportnity can be lost if it results in shift of shipping to andman sea.
DFC: intro? MAP?
DFC are mega rail projects aimed at improving the freight carrying capacity of IR, reducing unit cost of transportation and improving service quality.
Features: selected trains to be run on these routes @ 100kmph; corridors runalong existing rail routes; bypasses for big cities to minimise env and social impact; strengthen rail tracks with heavier and stronger rails on concrete sleepers.
MAP:
Ludhiana, ambala, Saharanpur, Meerut, Dadri—>1) Eastern: Khurja, Tundla, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Mughalsarai, Dankuni 2) western: Rewari, Marwar, Palanpur, Ahmedabad, vadodara, Surat, JNPT
DFC: significance?
- Economic gains: multiplier effect; reduce logistics cost as logistic hubs are planned (logistics cost=14-15% of GDP for INdia as against 4-5% for developed countries); transport of coal, cement, steel m/c etc for infrastr development; will boost connectivity, flows and linkages
- Ecological gains: by shifting freight frm road to rail. It will generate 2.25X less GHGs over 30yr period compared to present scenario; exclusive use of electric locomotives, will improve fuel use efficiency and decrease GHGs emission
- Better operational performance of IR: speed upto 100kmph, current avg 25kmph reducing time of transportation upto 50% and double the capacity of railways
- Make in India and Tech advancements: DFC will employ state-of-the-art tech and modern mgmt and procurement approaches, boosting MakeinIndia and smart cities along DFC like Ahmedabad, vadodara etc.
- Decongesting roads: DFCs (ongoing and planned) are along 4 key transportation routes (Golden Quad). Along with IWT using local rivers, if planned in future, may lead to complementarity of transport system.
- Regional dev: Horizontal as well as vertical unity across diff regions;Abt 2000km of EDFC will pass through some of the poorest regions of the contry and will bring jobs and dev opportunities. Lead to community Dev and Community Participation
- growth centres: Logistics hub
- complement Bharatmala, Sagarmala projects; will connect industrial heartland in north with eastern and western coasts in South India
- efficient urbanizatin: limit urban sprawl and instead effect planned conurbation.
Chabahar port can lead to regional development in S Asia and Central Asain region: intro? MAP?
- sea port located in SE Iran on gulf of Oman, serving as Iran’s only oceanic port developed with India’s assistance
- includes ports: Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti
