Unit Overview and Description
3.5 Road Transport
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) : The National Highways Authority of India was constituted by an act of Parliament, the National Highways Authority of India Act,1988. It is responsible for the development, maintenance and management of National Highways entrusted to it and for matters connected or incidental thereto. The Authority was operationalised in Feb, 1995 with the appointment of full time Chairman and other Members.
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1DWLRQDO +LJKZD\V $XWKRULW\ RI ,QGLD 1+$, LV PDQGDWHG WR LPSOHPHQW 1DWLRQDO Highways Development Project (NHDP) which is -
a) India‘s Largest ever highways project
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The National Highways have a total length of 71,772 km to serve as the arterial network of the country. The development of National Highways is the responsibility of the Government of India. The Government of India has launched major initiatives to upgrade and strengthen National Highways through various phases of National Highways Development project 1+'3 ZKLFK DUH EULHÀ\ DV XQGHU
NHDP Phase I : NHDP Phase I was approved by Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
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(CCEA) in December 2000 at an estimated cost of Rs.30,000 crore comprises mostly of GQ (5,846 km) and NS-EW Corridor (981km), port connectivity (356 km) and others (315 km).
NHDP Phase II : NHDP Phase II was approved by CCEA in December 2003 at an estimated cost of Rs.34,339 crore (2002 prices) comprises mostly NS-EW Corridor (6,161 km) and other National Highways of 486 km length, the total length being 6,647 km. The total length of Phase II is 6,647 km.
NHDP Phase-III: Government approved on 5.3.2005 upgradation and 4 laning of 4,035 km of National Highways on BOT basis at an estimated cost of Rs. 22,207 crores (2004 prices). Government approved in April 2007 upgradation and 4 laning at 8074 km at an estimated cost of Rs. 54,339 crore.
NHDP Phase V: CCEA has approved on 5.10.2006 six laning of 6,500 km of existing 4 lane highways under NHDP Phase V (on DBFO basis). Six laning of 6,500 km includes 5,700 km of GQ and other stretches.
NHDP Phase VI: CCEA has approved on November 2006 for 1000 km of expressways at an estimated cost of Rs. 16680 crs .
NHDP Phase VII: CCEA has approved on December 2007 for 700 km of Ring Roads,
%\SDVVHV DQG À\RYHUV DQG VHOHFWHG VWUHWFKHV DW DQ HVWLPDWHG FRVW RI 5V FUV To meet the nation’s need for the provision and maintenance of National Highways network to global standards and to meet user’s expectations in the most time bound and cost effective manner, within the strategic policy framework set by the Government of India DQG WKXV SURPRWH HFRQRPLF ZHOO EHLQJ DQG TXDOLW\ RI OLIH RI WKH SHRSOH
Car traveling: It is usually an independent means of transport. The driver decides where, when and how he is going to get to a destination. It is usually cheaper since roads fees are not directly paid but are rather from taxes. It is the only transportation mode that GRHVQRWUHTXLUHWUDQVIHUVLQWKHVHQVHWKDWWKHZKROHMRXUQH\IURPGRRUWRGRRUFDQEH achieved without even stopping. Car transport is the dominant mode in world tourism (77%
RIDOOMRXUQH\VQRWDEO\EHFDXVHRIDGYDQWDJHVVXFKDVÀH[LELOLW\SULFHDQGLQGHSHQGHQFH Tourists will often rent cars to journey within their destinations, which has triggered an active clustering of car rental companies have emerged adjacent to main transport terminals (airports, train stations) and tourist venues.
Coach traveling : This type of mode of transport uses the same road network as cars.
Coaches are well suited for local mass tourism but can be perceived as a nuisance if in WRRODUJHQXPEHUVVLQFHWKH\UHTXLUHDODUJHDPRXQWRISDUNLQJVSDFH7KH\FDQEHXVHG
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for short duration local tours (hours) but also can be set for multi-days journeys where the coach is the conveyance.
Car Rental: &DU UHQWDO FRPSDQLHV RSHUDWH E\ SXUFKDVLQJ RU OHDVLQJ D QXPEHU RI ÀHHW YHKLFOHV DQG UHQWLQJ WKHP WR WKHLU FXVWRPHUV IRU D IHH 5HQWDO ÀHHWV FDQ EH VWUXFWXUHG LQ several ways – they can be owned outright (these are known as ‘risk vehicles’ because the car rental operator is taking a risk on how much the vehicle will be sold for when it is removed from service), they can be leased, or they can be owned under a guaranteed EX\EDFN SURJUDP DUUDQJHG GLUHFWO\ WKURXJK D PDQXIDFWXUHU RU PDQXIDFWXUHU¶V ¿QDQFLDO arm (these are known as ‘repurchase vehicles’ because the manufacturer outlines the H[DFW SULFH RI RULJLQDO VDOH DQG RI UHSXUFKDVH DW WKH HQG RI D GH¿QHG WHUP$W WKH HQG of a rental vehicle’s useful life, rental companies will often sell them into the used car market to dealers across the country via several methods, including direct-to-dealer and via specialized wholesale auctions companies (such as Manheim Auctions in the USA).
Dealers generally will go through an inspection of the vehicles to make sure they comply with the safety standards of that dealership and then sell the car to the public. Many of these are known as program vehicles in the representation by the selling dealer.
Car Rental System : 0RVWFDUUHQWDORI¿FHVRIIHUDUDQJHRIYHKLFOHVL]HVWRVXLWDYDULHW\
RI EXGJHWV DQG VSDFH UHTXLUHPHQWV DQG VRPH DGGLWLRQDOO\ RIIHU VSHFLDOLVHG YHKLFOHV WR suit its location such as convertibles, prestige models, hybrid/electric vehicles or SUVs and passenger vans. At major airports or in larger cities, some independent car rental agencies offer high-end vehicles for rent. Some specialized companies such as Rent- D:UHFN RIIHU ROGHU YHKLFOHV DW UHGXFHG SULFHV 7R DOORZ IRU D XQLIRUP FODVVL¿FDWLRQ DQG easy comparison of car rental prices, the Association of Car Rental Industry Systems and 6WDQGDUGV $&5,66 KDV GHYHORSHG WKH$&5,66 &DU &ODVVL¿FDWLRQ &RGH FRGLQJ V\VWHP This describes the size, door count, gearbox type (manual/automatic) and whether the FDU LV DLUFRQGLWLRQHG HQFRGHG LQWR IRXU OHWWHUV $GGLWLRQDO FODVVL¿FDWLRQV EDVHG RQ VHDW numbers and trunk volume were also set by the Belgian Rent a Car association in order WRSURYLGHDXQL¿HGV\VWHPIRUDVVHVVLQJWKHFDUW\SHVLQRQOLQHUHVHUYDWLRQV\VWHPVVXFK as Amadeus or Argus.
Car rentals are subject to many conditions which vary from one country to another and from one company to another. Generally the vehicle must be returned in the same condition it was rented in, and often must not exceed mileage restrictions, otherwise extra fees may be incurred.
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Review Questions:
1. What are the different forms of car travels?
%ULHÀ\ H[SODLQ WKH 1DWLRQDO +LJKZD\V$XWKRULW\ RI ,QGLD 1+$, LQ ,QGLDQ URDG ZD\V 3. Write a short note on various projects promoted by National Highways Development
project (NHDP).
4. Write a small note on the reaons for existance of toll on booth highways.
5. Activity: Identify major national high ways in India with their numbers.