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Here's another article where Baalu goes on record saying the that GQ
will be done by June 2005.

http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitems.asp?
ID=IET20041016133542&Title=Southern+News+-+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0

Cheers.

My 2 cents on the "completion rate" -

Stretches/contracts  fully completed amount to 55% or so. Certain
other stretches have completed 2 laning as per GQ standards. These
are being added up to another 10%-15% by Baalu, arriving at 65-70%.

June 2005 is a case of "optimistic approximation" by him.
Presumably, if ~5000 kms have been completed by June 2005, the
Ministry of Road and Highways will be able to quote the "six month
deadline extension clause" to say that we are on track for
completion ( read almost) by December 2005.

So take these comments with a pinch of salt, but look forward to
4500kms or more being completed by June 2005.

Cheers to good roads!
Sameer


--- In indiahighways@yahoogroups.com, prodrocks <no_reply@y...>
wrote:
>
> Here's another article where Baalu goes on record saying the that
GQ
> will be done by June 2005.
>
> http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitems.asp?
> ID=IET20041016133542&Title=Southern+News+-+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0
>
> Cheers.

It will boost the image of Goa if this project turns into reality

Cheers
Lenin

From The Navhind Times 28/8/04


Goa seeks central funds for expressway project
-------------------------------------------------------------
In a bid to expedite the upgradation of the 138-kilometre long Goa
stretch of the National Highway-17 from Patradevi to Canacona, the
state government has requested the Central government for 40 per cent
of the funds required for the project.


A preliminary study of the project, which will include two new
bridges in Goa,has put the estimated cost to around Rs 1,200 crore,
according to the secretary of the public works department, Ms
Debashree Mukherjee.


Ms Mukherjee said the project includes construction of a 55-kilometre
long 'Expressway' for the Mopa - Margao stretch and four-laning of
the remaining road. The 'Expressway' stretch will be access-
controlled like the Mumbai- Pune highway. Though it will be
constructed separately and away from the present road, it will also
connect the major towns like Mapusa and Panaji.

When completed, it is expected to bring down the travel time from the
proposed airport at Mopa to South Goa to about 25 to 30 minutes. The
'Expressway' covers the heaviest traffic flow on NH-17 and the entire
project is planned to cater to the traffic requirements of the state
for the next around 40 years, Ms Mukherjee said.

Though large projects such as this are normally undertaken by the
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the traffic density on
NH-17 in Goa is not high enough to fit into NHAI norms. The state
government has therefore proposed to undertake the project itself by
availing of the Union government's finance of 40 per cent to fill in
the viability gap.


Ms Mukherjee said she had met the earlier Ministry of Roads,
Transport and Highways (MORTH) secretary in Delhi and had received a
favourable response. She is following it up with the present MORTH
secretary and expressed confidence of a positive outcome to Goa's
request.

Hi All,

First of all, I've been a silent member so far and this is my first
post (though the third Abhishek to post). I wanna say I appreciate
the foundation of this wonderful group which has contributed many
interesting discussions and debates.

Surfing, I came across an article on the Vadodara Ahmedabad
expressway on the Indian Express website.

http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=102080

The article basically talks about the fatalities that have occurred
on the expressway, mostly due to human error. I hope such articles
prove educational than discouraging to users of the freeway. What is
concerning (and I agree with Vaibhav Mittal) is that most of us in
India are inexperienced as far as driving on expressways is
concerned. How many people know what a "blind spot" is? Have lanes
been defined as fast and slow lanes? I hope the government along
with developing roads is working on educating people and putting a
thorough licensing process in place requiring some sort of written
theoretical exam.

I hope the author is accurate in stating that the driving surface of
the expressway is impeccable. Can't wait to try it out. However, the
comment that cows, dogs and other animals get onto the freeway is
scary! A fast running deer can put a driver in a fix, a slow cow...

Thanks,
Abhishek

I just returned to Bombay after my second driving holiday to Ladakh.

Let me provide you an update of NH8  first.

Bombay-Ghodbunder-Manor-Vapi (Gujarat) is now beautifully double-laned, and
unlike a trip sometiem ago, dividers are lit up and sign boards decent. I took
this stretch in the night. The biggest menace about double carriageways is that
truckers refuse to let the right lane go, and keep lumbering too and fro.

After Vapi, double-laning is complete till near Valsad; thereafter, it is a mess
as usual - I did the same stretch last year same time and I do not find any
significant progress in some of the worst sectors especially Valsad-Navsari. No
signboards, at least once you will end up retracting your tracks because the
road simply ended. In some stretches, double-laning is almost over, but the
deviations are unmarked and often you run headlong into a truck coming in the
wrong lane, resulting from the confusion, especially in the nights.

From Surat onwards, the old double road takes over (no credit to GQ), although
the road condition could be better.

The best part of this Bombay-Ahmedabad stretch is teh new Vadodara-Ahmedabad
expressway. Starting off the existing NH8 Vadodara By Pass, this is one superb
stretch of road, rivalling Bombay-Pune. 100 kms in 55 minutes - that was my
tally, never mind the speed limit of 100 kmph. Traffic is sparse, facilities
non-existent and there are very lonely stretches. The best part of the
expressway is that it ends near Naroda in Ahmedabad, very convenient for those
who wish to go beyond to Udaipur on NH8 (although the Rajkot bound may have to
wade a bit through the existing Ahmedabad By Pass). What I saw of the approach
roads from Ahmedabad city tothe expressway were unimpressive - do they have a
Ring Road-style access road from the city?

Work is progresing slowly along the Ahmedabad-Himmatnagar stretch, but after
Himmatnagar, double-laning is complete up to Udapur - this is simply one of the
best legs - long ribbons of road, little traffic or human passage, and
particularly good in the ghat sections beyond Shamlaji.

After Udaipur, is there a NH8 GQ - did not see too much evidence of work going
on! The need becomes acute after Beawar when the intensity of the traffic
increases manifold, and truckers/Sumos become wilder! This section really needs
the double carriageway.

Jaipur By Pass begins very impressively with the new flyovers (although work at
Dud and Bagnu before Jaipur) result in traffic snarls), but descends into the
messy Bikaner road and then the treacherous road that masquerades as the Jaipur
By Pass. This road can be classified as outright dangerous for cars - the
condition is bad, deviations are unmarked, but most terrible is the chunks of
tar that have melted and rear up to touch the undercarriage half a feet high in
the air! This is the third time in 2 years I am passing through Jaipur and
nothing has changed.

Jaipur-Delhi expressway is becoming more and more congested and till you cross
Kotputli, utmost caution is recommended.

All along, happy to note that several new petrol pumps have sprung up (political
largesse). Many Pure for Sures, Club HPs too.

Regards,
Kumar


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Punjab and Himachal Pradesh definitely have the best highways in India. The
latter keeps improving day by day.

Ambala-Shimla-Rampur-Recong Peo (NH22) is in great shape throughout, except for
some bad stretches beyond Rampur till Tapri. Take care, the petrol pumps beyond
Rampur are in Jeori, Recong Peo and Powari (after Powari, none for the next 200
kms till Kaza).

The final stretch to Sumdo is closed thanks to a landslide and we had to take a
400-km deviation to get around to Kaza via Manali and Gramphoo.

Climb up to Jalori Pass is via a good road, and the NH21 from Mandi to Manali is
excellent. It has been widened, and a 1-km long tunnel has been commissioned
near Thalout-Aut.

Beyond Manali, the last petrol pump is at Tandi 125 kms away just before Keylong
(on the Leh road), and at Kaza (on the Kunzum la-Kaza-Tabo road). The road to
Rohtang Pass was good, but teh biggest surpise was teh descent where the roads
have ben completely tarred and in good shape.

We chose to turn off the Leh road at Gramphoo to go to Kaza - this is a metalled
road throughout, save for the last 30-40 kms from Losar to Kaza. Nonetheless,
road is even and cleared off rubble and big stones. Ascent/descent to Kunzum la
was pleasant. Road from Kaza to Kee Monaster and Kibber are great.

The worst stretch of road was the one from Baltal (at the foot of Kunzum la on
the Lahaul side) to Lake Chandertal. This one is steep, very narrow, full of
rubble and has several streams crisscrossing it (landslide zones aplenty).
Definitely a jeepable track, but we made it Matizable (with my Daewoo Matiz)!!

Back to the Leh road at Gramphoo, pleasant surpises. The same road that was a
mud/muck track (had to be trawled) last year is now a great tar road - thanks to
some road project to make all roads tarred by 2006! In fact, earlier teh jeep
taxis used to take 2 days to do teh Manali-Leh trip - now they do it in one long
day, leaving Manali at 130 am (night) and reaching Leh by the evening.

The last petrol pump is at Tandi till Leh nearly 400 kms away. Keylong is the
last town where you can shop for necessities - not for the next 400 kms till
Leh. Hotel Ibex at Jispa was almost closed down.

As we drove towards Baralachala, the storm clouds were already in assembly, and
we were greeted by the first snows of the season - the climb was accomplished
under snowfall and we were forced to fall back behind a couple of oil tankers
who made the tracks - in some places, ice had made traction very difficult.
Three days after we passed through the Barcalchala, the roads were closed down
due to the heavy snowfall. The Raid Himalayan rally that followed less than a
week later had to be abandoned because of snowfall in Rohtang and Baralachala,
and the contestants had to wait it out for the snow to clear for almost 5 days.

The tent camps at Sarchu were already closed and we were lucky thanks to the
rally that the tea tents were open - they will all be gone by now till the next
summer. We received offers from army guys wanting to sell us petrol in black.

The good roads continued across Sarchu, Gata Loops, Pang and the More Plains.
The road to Tanglangla was not tarred but good enough - on the other side, from
Rumtse to Leh, roads have been relaid.

All the roads in and around Leh are in good shape.

Our trip to Pangong Lake almost did not come through thanks to the snowy
weather. We crossed Changla the day it reopened, and this was tough - 2-3 foot
snow throughout but luckily the army had cleared it and trucks had rumbled
through making our job slightly easier. Thereafter, road was good all the way
till Pangong Lake. My attempt to scale Marisimik la, which is now the highest
road in the world, was not successful after Phobrang (22 kms short of the
summit) since the road was loose and strewn with big stones making it difficult
for the small Matiz to climb up with full power. Incidentally, even the army's
Stallion truck could not accomplish the climb successfully that day.

Leh-Srinagar is one of the best roads in this part of the country. The
Kargil-Drass road wich was in shambles last year has been surfaced well. Note on
timings to climb the Zoji La pass - open from 530 -730 am (towards
Sonamarg/Srinagar side) and open from 200-400 pm (towards Dras/Kargil side). We
chose to camp out at Drass before the early morning climb. We were warned about
the terrible road from Drass to the Zoji La base TCP, and we were early enough
to catch the long queue of light vehicles that are let off first at 530 am. Zoji
la road is unsurfaced but better than what it was last year. Roads on the other
side, in Kashmir Valley, are excellent all the way to Srinagar.

Srinagar-Jammu highway is looking good (Note: Jawahar Tunnel is open from 800
am-530 pm), and facilities all through are much better (puncture shops, etc),
although petrol pumps are still sparse.

Nagrota By Pass is now operational, although the deviation takes you through
some lonely stretches that I would definitely avoid at nights. Jammu By Pass too
is excellent, but the other side is a mess - the Pathankot highway not only is
congested but also could have been better laid. Night driving is not enjoyable
thanks to the poor visibility and the large amount of miscellaneous traffic.

Regards,
Kumar


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Return from Ladakh to Bombay was via Amritsar, and the border roads of Faridkot,
Bhatinda, Sri Ganganagar, Bkaner, Jaisalmer and Barmer. Undoubtedly, Punjab and
Rajasthan roads allow you to test the engine power to the fullest, although this
part of Punjab is densely populated with several towns en route. Abohar had a
bad patch of road for a few kilometres and highway signage could be better,
especially since the National Highways 10/15 keep interchanging in this part and
one can go off track easily.

Drive through Sri Ganganagar and Bikaner were splendid and Pokhran has an
excellent RTDC motel just off the highway.

After Jaisalmer, the first 200 kms through Barmer and Dhorimanna were covered in
2 hours, the sand storms notwithstanding. Turning off NH15 at Sanchore towards
Dhanera/Deesa/Palapur, teh first few kilometres were terrible, but once you
cross into Gujarat, the roads get transformed. Since I last visited these parts
3 years ago, the roads have been widened and from Deesa to Palanpur
double-laned. At Palanpur, you join the main Ahmedabad-Abu Road-Jodhpur highway,
which is still being double-laned, although most of the work is over.

Regards,
Kumar


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

good report. thanks. i am looking forward for the day when phase 2 of
NHDP is completed. I want to make a trip from bangalore to kashmir on
NS highway. i always feel that the country should have gone
for "freeways" rather than highways; difference in speed could easily
be more than 30-40% reduction in travel time. even with the existing
highway...nhai could do a lot to improve road travel and travel speed
by constructing fences, educating drivers on lane driving,enforcing
lane discipline, etc.
anyway it is getting interesting. we should where we are 2 or 3 years
from now.
gold

--- In indiahighways@yahoogroups.com, "Kumar" <kumar_hv@h...> wrote:
> I just returned to Bombay after my second driving holiday to Ladakh.
>
> Let me provide you an update of NH8  first.
>
> Bombay-Ghodbunder-Manor-Vapi (Gujarat) is now beautifully double-
laned, and unlike a trip sometiem ago, dividers are lit up and sign
boards decent. I took this stretch in the night. The biggest menace
about double carriageways is that truckers refuse to let the right
lane go, and keep lumbering too and fro.
>
> After Vapi, double-laning is complete till near Valsad; thereafter,
it is a mess as usual - I did the same stretch last year same time
and I do not find any significant progress in some of the worst
sectors especially Valsad-Navsari. No signboards, at least once you
will end up retracting your tracks because the road simply ended. In
some stretches, double-laning is almost over, but the deviations are
unmarked and often you run headlong into a truck coming in the wrong
lane, resulting from the confusion, especially in the nights.
>
> From Surat onwards, the old double road takes over (no credit to
GQ), although the road condition could be better.
>
> The best part of this Bombay-Ahmedabad stretch is teh new Vadodara-
Ahmedabad expressway. Starting off the existing NH8 Vadodara By Pass,
this is one superb stretch of road, rivalling Bombay-Pune. 100 kms in
55 minutes - that was my tally, never mind the speed limit of 100
kmph. Traffic is sparse, facilities non-existent and there are very
lonely stretches. The best part of the expressway is that it ends
near Naroda in Ahmedabad, very convenient for those who wish to go
beyond to Udaipur on NH8 (although the Rajkot bound may have to wade
a bit through the existing Ahmedabad By Pass). What I saw of the
approach roads from Ahmedabad city tothe expressway were
unimpressive - do they have a Ring Road-style access road from the
city?
>
> Work is progresing slowly along the Ahmedabad-Himmatnagar stretch,
but after Himmatnagar, double-laning is complete up to Udapur - this
is simply one of the best legs - long ribbons of road, little traffic
or human passage, and particularly good in the ghat sections beyond
Shamlaji.
>
> After Udaipur, is there a NH8 GQ - did not see too much evidence of
work going on! The need becomes acute after Beawar when the intensity
of the traffic increases manifold, and truckers/Sumos become wilder!
This section really needs the double carriageway.
>
> Jaipur By Pass begins very impressively with the new flyovers
(although work at Dud and Bagnu before Jaipur) result in traffic
snarls), but descends into the messy Bikaner road and then the
treacherous road that masquerades as the Jaipur By Pass. This road
can be classified as outright dangerous for cars - the condition is
bad, deviations are unmarked, but most terrible is the chunks of tar
that have melted and rear up to touch the undercarriage half a feet
high in the air! This is the third time in 2 years I am passing
through Jaipur and nothing has changed.
>
> Jaipur-Delhi expressway is becoming more and more congested and
till you cross Kotputli, utmost caution is recommended.
>
> All along, happy to note that several new petrol pumps have sprung
up (political largesse). Many Pure for Sures, Club HPs too.
>
> Regards,
> Kumar
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Kumar,

Great report.

A few points that I would love if you could clarify:

1.) Did you see any cars and specifically trucks/tractors driving headed in the
opposite direction on your side of the divider? I saw a huge car-carrier
indulging in this near Manor a few weeks ago when we were driving to Silvassa.
This can lead to absolutely terrible accidents if not checked - even the
Jaipur-Delhi stretch would probably suffer from this.

2.) After Udaipur, did you take the Nathdwara route or Chittaurgarh/Bhilwara
route? The latter, though not part of the original NH 8 has been allotted to the
GQ because the Nathdwara route has too many difficult hilly sections for
widening. I think they both merge at Beawar.

Thanks in advance,

Pravin

   ----- Original Message -----
   From: Kumar
   To: indiahighways@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 2:27 PM
   Subject: [IndiaHighways] GQ drive - NH8 from Bombay to Delhi


   I just returned to Bombay after my second driving holiday to Ladakh.

   Let me provide you an update of NH8  first.

   Bombay-Ghodbunder-Manor-Vapi (Gujarat) is now beautifully double-laned, and
unlike a trip sometiem ago, dividers are lit up and sign boards decent. I took
this stretch in the night. The biggest menace about double carriageways is that
truckers refuse to let the right lane go, and keep lumbering too and fro.

    Ahmedabad-Himmatnagar stretch, but After Udaipur, is there a NH8 GQ - did not
see too much evidence of work going on! The need becomes acute after Beawar when
the intensity of the traffic increases manifold, and truckers/Sumos become
wilder! This section really needs the double carriageway.

   Jaipur By Pass begins very impressively with the new flyovers (although work
at Dud and Bagnu before Jaipur) result in traffic snarls), but descends into the
messy Bikaner road and then the treacherous road that masquerades as the Jaipur
By Pass. This road can be classified as outright dangerous for cars - the
condition is bad, deviations are unmarked, but most terrible is the chunks of
tar that have melted and rear up to touch the undercarriage half a feet high in
the air! This is the third time in 2 years I am passing through Jaipur and
nothing has changed.

   Jaipur-Delhi expressway is becoming more and more congested and till you cross
Kotputli, utmost caution is recommended.

   All along, happy to note that several new petrol pumps have sprung up
(political largesse). Many Pure for Sures, Club HPs too.

   Regards,
   Kumar




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Kumar,

The NH 15 which is India's westernmost highway is possibly the best also in
terms of surface and very, very thin traffic. There is almost no habitation
along the Jaisalmer - Sanchore route and easily average speeds can be 90 km + as
you too managed.

Early this year I did the Jaisalmer - Ahmedabad stretch in exactly the same
fashion via Barmer, Sanchore, Palanpur, Mahesana and can you believe it,  we
finished it in less than 11 hours with at least two big halts for lunch and
dinner and a few short halts for chai etc.

The route is the shortest to the Kandla port from the north which the port
serves mainly. Also possibly  the armed forces maintains a part of it for
strategic importance and hence the excellent condition of the road.

Thanks,

Pravin

   ----- Original Message -----
   From: Kumar
   To: indiahighways@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 4:48 PM
   Subject: [IndiaHighways] Miscellaneous roads in Punjab and Rajasthan


   After Jaisalmer, the first 200 kms through Barmer and Dhorimanna were covered
in 2 hours, the sand storms notwithstanding. Turning off NH15 at Sanchore
towards Dhanera/Deesa/Palapur, teh first few kilometres were terrible, but once
you cross into Gujarat, the roads get transformed. Since I last visited these
parts 3 years ago, the roads have been widened and from Deesa to Palanpur
double-laned. At Palanpur, you join the main Ahmedabad-Abu Road-Jodhpur highway,
which is still being double-laned, although most of the work is over.

   Regards,
   Kumar



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Eventhought the contracts were advertised almost 10 months back,
I don't see the contracts being awarded in the implemntation page.
Does anyone know, when it is likely to awared. The more it is getting
late , it is more likely that we cannot finish in 2007.
   I cannot imagine awarding contracts takes more than couple of months

cheers

On the contrary, expect highway contract awarding to
pick up in the next few months.

Here's a news article that talks about the NHDP Phase
III projects.

There's been lots of talk about Montek Ahluwalia and
the Planning Commission evolving better and more
robuts frameworks to adopt for infrastructure
projects. Expect more on this soon because Montek
Ahluwalia has a mission, even if the Left is doing
it's best to not let him do his job!

http://www.ndtv.com/money/showbusinessstory.asp?slug=Next+phase+of+highways+proj\
ect+soon&id=21927

Next phase of highways project soon
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDTV Correspondent

Tuesday, October 19, 2004 (New Delhi):


The UPA government is now moving ahead with its
promise to upgrade the country's physical
infrastructure and is all set to take forward former
prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's pet highways
project.

Work will soon start on building 10,000 km of highways
across the country under the third phase of the
National Highway Development Project.

"The third phase is very much on. We are just looking
at minor procedural issues," said Dhanendra Kumar,
secretary, road transport.

After the Golden Quadrilateral and the North South and
East West corridors, the phase three of the project
will connect all state capitals, cities and towns of
economic importance and major tourist spots.

It will cost the government about Rs 55,000 crore. The
government has planned to pursue it through the
toll-based Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) system.

Under BOT, the roads will be built and maintained by
private contractors who will recover their costs by
charging a toll.

But wherever there's a shortfall, the government will
pay the rest.

"We felt this was the best way to invigorate public
private partnership," said Kumar.

Most analysts are happy with the government's efforts
saying this is a step in the right direction.

"Infrastructure is a key concern and what is being
done is good," said Michael Carter, country director,
World Bank.

National Highways account for 2 per cent of the
country's road network but carry 50 per cent of the
traffic.

Expanding the highways network will address, albeit
partly, the need to upgrade India's physical
infrastructure, which has been universally
acknowledged as a major constraint to India's economic
ambitions.

--- devind2020 <devind2020@...> wrote:

>
>
>   Eventhought the contracts were advertised almost
> 10 months back,
> I don't see the contracts being awarded in the
> implemntation page.
> Does anyone know, when it is likely to awared. The
> more it is getting
> late , it is more likely that we cannot finish in
> 2007.
>   I cannot imagine awarding contracts takes more
> than couple of months
>
> cheers
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
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>
>
>
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Hi Kumar,

the accounts are truly enjoyable and for those of us
IndiaHighway'ers who have never ventured out to quite the same
extent as you, it is a fascinating narration.

Do you have pictures you take along the way? I am sure a lot of IH
members, apart from me, would love to see some pictures!

Cheers to good roads!
Sameer


--- In indiahighways@yahoogroups.com, "Kumar" <kumar_hv@h...> wrote:
> Punjab and Himachal Pradesh definitely have the best highways in
India. The latter keeps improving day by day.
>
> Ambala-Shimla-Rampur-Recong Peo (NH22) is in great shape
throughout, except for some bad stretches beyond Rampur till Tapri.
Take care, the petrol pumps beyond Rampur are in Jeori, Recong Peo
and Powari (after Powari, none for the next 200 kms till Kaza).
>
> The final stretch to Sumdo is closed thanks to a landslide and we
had to take a 400-km deviation to get around to Kaza via Manali and
Gramphoo.
>
> Climb up to Jalori Pass is via a good road, and the NH21 from
Mandi to Manali is excellent. It has been widened, and a 1-km long
tunnel has been commissioned near Thalout-Aut.
>
> Beyond Manali, the last petrol pump is at Tandi 125 kms away just
before Keylong (on the Leh road), and at Kaza (on the Kunzum la-Kaza-
Tabo road). The road to Rohtang Pass was good, but teh biggest
surpise was teh descent where the roads have ben completely tarred
and in good shape.
>
> We chose to turn off the Leh road at Gramphoo to go to Kaza - this
is a metalled road throughout, save for the last 30-40 kms from
Losar to Kaza. Nonetheless, road is even and cleared off rubble and
big stones. Ascent/descent to Kunzum la was pleasant. Road from Kaza
to Kee Monaster and Kibber are great.
>
> The worst stretch of road was the one from Baltal (at the foot of
Kunzum la on the Lahaul side) to Lake Chandertal. This one is steep,
very narrow, full of rubble and has several streams crisscrossing it
(landslide zones aplenty). Definitely a jeepable track, but we made
it Matizable (with my Daewoo Matiz)!!
>
> Back to the Leh road at Gramphoo, pleasant surpises. The same road
that was a mud/muck track (had to be trawled) last year is now a
great tar road - thanks to some road project to make all roads
tarred by 2006! In fact, earlier teh jeep taxis used to take 2 days
to do teh Manali-Leh trip - now they do it in one long day, leaving
Manali at 130 am (night) and reaching Leh by the evening.
>
> The last petrol pump is at Tandi till Leh nearly 400 kms away.
Keylong is the last town where you can shop for necessities - not
for the next 400 kms till Leh. Hotel Ibex at Jispa was almost closed
down.
>
> As we drove towards Baralachala, the storm clouds were already in
assembly, and we were greeted by the first snows of the season - the
climb was accomplished under snowfall and we were forced to fall
back behind a couple of oil tankers who made the tracks - in some
places, ice had made traction very difficult. Three days after we
passed through the Barcalchala, the roads were closed down due to
the heavy snowfall. The Raid Himalayan rally that followed less than
a week later had to be abandoned because of snowfall in Rohtang and
Baralachala, and the contestants had to wait it out for the snow to
clear for almost 5 days.
>
> The tent camps at Sarchu were already closed and we were lucky
thanks to the rally that the tea tents were open - they will all be
gone by now till the next summer. We received offers from army guys
wanting to sell us petrol in black.
>
> The good roads continued across Sarchu, Gata Loops, Pang and the
More Plains. The road to Tanglangla was not tarred but good enough -
on the other side, from Rumtse to Leh, roads have been relaid.
>
> All the roads in and around Leh are in good shape.
>
> Our trip to Pangong Lake almost did not come through thanks to the
snowy weather. We crossed Changla the day it reopened, and this was
tough - 2-3 foot snow throughout but luckily the army had cleared it
and trucks had rumbled through making our job slightly easier.
Thereafter, road was good all the way till Pangong Lake. My attempt
to scale Marisimik la, which is now the highest road in the world,
was not successful after Phobrang (22 kms short of the summit) since
the road was loose and strewn with big stones making it difficult
for the small Matiz to climb up with full power. Incidentally, even
the army's Stallion truck could not accomplish the climb
successfully that day.
>
> Leh-Srinagar is one of the best roads in this part of the country.
The Kargil-Drass road wich was in shambles last year has been
surfaced well. Note on timings to climb the Zoji La pass - open from
530 -730 am (towards Sonamarg/Srinagar side) and open from 200-400
pm (towards Dras/Kargil side). We chose to camp out at Drass before
the early morning climb. We were warned about the terrible road from
Drass to the Zoji La base TCP, and we were early enough to catch the
long queue of light vehicles that are let off first at 530 am. Zoji
la road is unsurfaced but better than what it was last year. Roads
on the other side, in Kashmir Valley, are excellent all the way to
Srinagar.
>
> Srinagar-Jammu highway is looking good (Note: Jawahar Tunnel is
open from 800 am-530 pm), and facilities all through are much better
(puncture shops, etc), although petrol pumps are still sparse.
>
> Nagrota By Pass is now operational, although the deviation takes
you through some lonely stretches that I would definitely avoid at
nights. Jammu By Pass too is excellent, but the other side is a
mess - the Pathankot highway not only is congested but also could
have been better laid. Night driving is not enjoyable thanks to the
poor visibility and the large amount of miscellaneous traffic.
>
> Regards,
> Kumar
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Sameer,

I have uploaded some photos in the FILES section that show you a few
glimpses of some of the road sectors in Himachal and Ladakh.

Kumar


--- In indiahighways@yahoogroups.com, "Sameer Madan"
<sameermadan@y...> wrote:
>

> Hi Kumar,
>
> the accounts are truly enjoyable and for those of us
> IndiaHighway'ers who have never ventured out to quite the same
> extent as you, it is a fascinating narration.
>
> Do you have pictures you take along the way? I am sure a lot of IH
> members, apart from me, would love to see some pictures!
>
> Cheers to good roads!
> Sameer
>
>
> --- In indiahighways@yahoogroups.com, "Kumar" <kumar_hv@h...> wrote:
> > Punjab and Himachal Pradesh definitely have the best highways in
> India. The latter keeps improving day by day.
> >
> > Ambala-Shimla-Rampur-Recong Peo (NH22) is in great shape
> throughout, except for some bad stretches beyond Rampur till Tapri.
> Take care, the petrol pumps beyond Rampur are in Jeori, Recong Peo
> and Powari (after Powari, none for the next 200 kms till Kaza).
> >
> > The final stretch to Sumdo is closed thanks to a landslide and we
> had to take a 400-km deviation to get around to Kaza via Manali and
> Gramphoo.
> >
> > Climb up to Jalori Pass is via a good road, and the NH21 from
> Mandi to Manali is excellent. It has been widened, and a 1-km long
> tunnel has been commissioned near Thalout-Aut.
> >
> > Beyond Manali, the last petrol pump is at Tandi 125 kms away just
> before Keylong (on the Leh road), and at Kaza (on the Kunzum la-
Kaza-
> Tabo road). The road to Rohtang Pass was good, but teh biggest
> surpise was teh descent where the roads have ben completely tarred
> and in good shape.
> >
> > We chose to turn off the Leh road at Gramphoo to go to Kaza -
this
> is a metalled road throughout, save for the last 30-40 kms from
> Losar to Kaza. Nonetheless, road is even and cleared off rubble and
> big stones. Ascent/descent to Kunzum la was pleasant. Road from
Kaza
> to Kee Monaster and Kibber are great.
> >
> > The worst stretch of road was the one from Baltal (at the foot of
> Kunzum la on the Lahaul side) to Lake Chandertal. This one is
steep,
> very narrow, full of rubble and has several streams crisscrossing
it
> (landslide zones aplenty). Definitely a jeepable track, but we made
> it Matizable (with my Daewoo Matiz)!!
> >
> > Back to the Leh road at Gramphoo, pleasant surpises. The same
road
> that was a mud/muck track (had to be trawled) last year is now a
> great tar road - thanks to some road project to make all roads
> tarred by 2006! In fact, earlier teh jeep taxis used to take 2 days
> to do teh Manali-Leh trip - now they do it in one long day, leaving
> Manali at 130 am (night) and reaching Leh by the evening.
> >
> > The last petrol pump is at Tandi till Leh nearly 400 kms away.
> Keylong is the last town where you can shop for necessities - not
> for the next 400 kms till Leh. Hotel Ibex at Jispa was almost
closed
> down.
> >
> > As we drove towards Baralachala, the storm clouds were already in
> assembly, and we were greeted by the first snows of the season -
the
> climb was accomplished under snowfall and we were forced to fall
> back behind a couple of oil tankers who made the tracks - in some
> places, ice had made traction very difficult. Three days after we
> passed through the Barcalchala, the roads were closed down due to
> the heavy snowfall. The Raid Himalayan rally that followed less
than
> a week later had to be abandoned because of snowfall in Rohtang and
> Baralachala, and the contestants had to wait it out for the snow to
> clear for almost 5 days.
> >
> > The tent camps at Sarchu were already closed and we were lucky
> thanks to the rally that the tea tents were open - they will all be
> gone by now till the next summer. We received offers from army guys
> wanting to sell us petrol in black.
> >
> > The good roads continued across Sarchu, Gata Loops, Pang and the
> More Plains. The road to Tanglangla was not tarred but good enough -

> on the other side, from Rumtse to Leh, roads have been relaid.
> >
> > All the roads in and around Leh are in good shape.
> >
> > Our trip to Pangong Lake almost did not come through thanks to
the
> snowy weather. We crossed Changla the day it reopened, and this was
> tough - 2-3 foot snow throughout but luckily the army had cleared
it
> and trucks had rumbled through making our job slightly easier.
> Thereafter, road was good all the way till Pangong Lake. My attempt
> to scale Marisimik la, which is now the highest road in the world,
> was not successful after Phobrang (22 kms short of the summit)
since
> the road was loose and strewn with big stones making it difficult
> for the small Matiz to climb up with full power. Incidentally, even
> the army's Stallion truck could not accomplish the climb
> successfully that day.
> >
> > Leh-Srinagar is one of the best roads in this part of the
country.
> The Kargil-Drass road wich was in shambles last year has been
> surfaced well. Note on timings to climb the Zoji La pass - open
from
> 530 -730 am (towards Sonamarg/Srinagar side) and open from 200-400
> pm (towards Dras/Kargil side). We chose to camp out at Drass before
> the early morning climb. We were warned about the terrible road
from
> Drass to the Zoji La base TCP, and we were early enough to catch
the
> long queue of light vehicles that are let off first at 530 am. Zoji
> la road is unsurfaced but better than what it was last year. Roads
> on the other side, in Kashmir Valley, are excellent all the way to
> Srinagar.
> >
> > Srinagar-Jammu highway is looking good (Note: Jawahar Tunnel is
> open from 800 am-530 pm), and facilities all through are much
better
> (puncture shops, etc), although petrol pumps are still sparse.
> >
> > Nagrota By Pass is now operational, although the deviation takes
> you through some lonely stretches that I would definitely avoid at
> nights. Jammu By Pass too is excellent, but the other side is a
> mess - the Pathankot highway not only is congested but also could
> have been better laid. Night driving is not enjoyable thanks to the
> poor visibility and the large amount of miscellaneous traffic.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Kumar
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Pravin,

Wrong-side driving is a menace we have to live with after the dual
carriageways become more common. NH1 in Haryana/Punjab was mercifully
less prone to this problem although the oversized grain carriers take
up too much of road.

I took the conventional NH8 from Udaipur via Nathdwara and Bhim. THis
section continues to be excellent although quite barren and short of
facilities, but low levels of traffic till Beawar when the Kandla-
bound traffic picks up all the way to Delhi. You can do 200 kms in
less than 3 hours in this section if you are a fast driver. No work
on double-laning is on in this stretch - I guess like you said the
Chittorgarh-Beawar stretch is being double-laned - must try this
stretch next time.

Kumar


--- In indiahighways@yahoogroups.com, Elixir Communications
<elixircomm@v...> wrote:
> Hi Kumar,
>
> Great report.
>
> A few points that I would love if you could clarify:
>
> 1.) Did you see any cars and specifically trucks/tractors driving
headed in the opposite direction on your side of the divider? I saw a
huge car-carrier indulging in this near Manor a few weeks ago when we
were driving to Silvassa. This can lead to absolutely terrible
accidents if not checked - even the Jaipur-Delhi stretch would
probably suffer from this.
>
> 2.) After Udaipur, did you take the Nathdwara route or
Chittaurgarh/Bhilwara route? The latter, though not part of the
original NH 8 has been allotted to the GQ because the Nathdwara route
has too many difficult hilly sections for widening. I think they both
merge at Beawar.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Pravin
>
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: Kumar
>   To: indiahighways@yahoogroups.com
>   Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 2:27 PM
>   Subject: [IndiaHighways] GQ drive - NH8 from Bombay to Delhi
>
>
>   I just returned to Bombay after my second driving holiday to
Ladakh.
>
>   Let me provide you an update of NH8  first.
>
>   Bombay-Ghodbunder-Manor-Vapi (Gujarat) is now beautifully double-
laned, and unlike a trip sometiem ago, dividers are lit up and sign
boards decent. I took this stretch in the night. The biggest menace
about double carriageways is that truckers refuse to let the right
lane go, and keep lumbering too and fro.
>
>    Ahmedabad-Himmatnagar stretch, but After Udaipur, is there a NH8
GQ - did not see too much evidence of work going on! The need becomes
acute after Beawar when the intensity of the traffic increases
manifold, and truckers/Sumos become wilder! This section really needs
the double carriageway.
>
>   Jaipur By Pass begins very impressively with the new flyovers
(although work at Dud and Bagnu before Jaipur) result in traffic
snarls), but descends into the messy Bikaner road and then the
treacherous road that masquerades as the Jaipur By Pass. This road
can be classified as outright dangerous for cars - the condition is
bad, deviations are unmarked, but most terrible is the chunks of tar
that have melted and rear up to touch the undercarriage half a feet
high in the air! This is the third time in 2 years I am passing
through Jaipur and nothing has changed.
>
>   Jaipur-Delhi expressway is becoming more and more congested and
till you cross Kotputli, utmost caution is recommended.
>
>   All along, happy to note that several new petrol pumps have
sprung up (political largesse). Many Pure for Sures, Club HPs too.
>
>   Regards,
>   Kumar
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Gold,

Driving from Bangalore to Kasmir via Hyderabad, Nagpur, Laknadon (all
the way on excellent NH7), and later on the lousy stretch via Sagar
and Lalitpur to Jhansi (very bad roads till Lalitpur unless the new
MP govt has done something about it recently)and then again on to
great roads all the way to Pathankot (first NH 3 via Gwalior, Agra -
already double-laned), switching to NH 2 from Agra (expressay to
Delhi) and on to NH 1 (great roads) till Jalandar, and take the NH 1A
from there on to Srinagar (which is also good except for the Udhampur-
Qazigund mountain sections which can be high-trafficked and slower).

I did Kashmir-Kanyakumari drive 2 years ago on this route from North-
South, and proceeded from Bangalore to Kanyakumari via Salem, Karur
and Madurai. I did the 3,750 kms in 4 days!

Kumar


--- In indiahighways@yahoogroups.com, "investorgold2002"
<investorgold2002@y...> wrote:
>
>
> good report. thanks. i am looking forward for the day when phase 2
of
> NHDP is completed. I want to make a trip from bangalore to kashmir
on
> NS highway. i always feel that the country should have gone
> for "freeways" rather than highways; difference in speed could
easily
> be more than 30-40% reduction in travel time. even with the
existing
> highway...nhai could do a lot to improve road travel and travel
speed
> by constructing fences, educating drivers on lane driving,enforcing
> lane discipline, etc.
> anyway it is getting interesting. we should where we are 2 or 3
years
> from now.
> gold
>
> --- In indiahighways@yahoogroups.com, "Kumar" <kumar_hv@h...> wrote:
> > I just returned to Bombay after my second driving holiday to
Ladakh.
> >
> > Let me provide you an update of NH8  first.
> >
> > Bombay-Ghodbunder-Manor-Vapi (Gujarat) is now beautifully double-
> laned, and unlike a trip sometiem ago, dividers are lit up and sign
> boards decent. I took this stretch in the night. The biggest menace
> about double carriageways is that truckers refuse to let the right
> lane go, and keep lumbering too and fro.
> >
> > After Vapi, double-laning is complete till near Valsad;
thereafter,
> it is a mess as usual - I did the same stretch last year same time
> and I do not find any significant progress in some of the worst
> sectors especially Valsad-Navsari. No signboards, at least once you
> will end up retracting your tracks because the road simply ended.
In
> some stretches, double-laning is almost over, but the deviations
are
> unmarked and often you run headlong into a truck coming in the
wrong
> lane, resulting from the confusion, especially in the nights.
> >
> > From Surat onwards, the old double road takes over (no credit to
> GQ), although the road condition could be better.
> >
> > The best part of this Bombay-Ahmedabad stretch is teh new
Vadodara-
> Ahmedabad expressway. Starting off the existing NH8 Vadodara By
Pass,
> this is one superb stretch of road, rivalling Bombay-Pune. 100 kms
in
> 55 minutes - that was my tally, never mind the speed limit of 100
> kmph. Traffic is sparse, facilities non-existent and there are very
> lonely stretches. The best part of the expressway is that it ends
> near Naroda in Ahmedabad, very convenient for those who wish to go
> beyond to Udaipur on NH8 (although the Rajkot bound may have to
wade
> a bit through the existing Ahmedabad By Pass). What I saw of the
> approach roads from Ahmedabad city tothe expressway were
> unimpressive - do they have a Ring Road-style access road from the
> city?
> >
> > Work is progresing slowly along the Ahmedabad-Himmatnagar
stretch,
> but after Himmatnagar, double-laning is complete up to Udapur -
this
> is simply one of the best legs - long ribbons of road, little
traffic
> or human passage, and particularly good in the ghat sections beyond
> Shamlaji.
> >
> > After Udaipur, is there a NH8 GQ - did not see too much evidence
of
> work going on! The need becomes acute after Beawar when the
intensity
> of the traffic increases manifold, and truckers/Sumos become
wilder!
> This section really needs the double carriageway.
> >
> > Jaipur By Pass begins very impressively with the new flyovers
> (although work at Dud and Bagnu before Jaipur) result in traffic
> snarls), but descends into the messy Bikaner road and then the
> treacherous road that masquerades as the Jaipur By Pass. This road
> can be classified as outright dangerous for cars - the condition is
> bad, deviations are unmarked, but most terrible is the chunks of
tar
> that have melted and rear up to touch the undercarriage half a feet
> high in the air! This is the third time in 2 years I am passing
> through Jaipur and nothing has changed.
> >
> > Jaipur-Delhi expressway is becoming more and more congested and
> till you cross Kotputli, utmost caution is recommended.
> >
> > All along, happy to note that several new petrol pumps have
sprung
> up (political largesse). Many Pure for Sures, Club HPs too.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Kumar
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks for the details. "3750 Kms in 4 days!". that was a startling
fact to me; exclamatory mark was needed.

Anyway here are 2 interesting articles on the PM's proposal to use
$10 billion dollars for improving country's infrastructure.


http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=57608

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=72344

the first one is a fairly good article but harping on the same
capitalist and market based theme. i am capitalist and totally
believe in market forces....but when the country's infrastructure in
such shambles and when the country's population is so high and the
poor infrastucture is such a major barrier for the growth in fully
utilizing the resources of the country, i don't mind using any
resource, creating any super-authority or anything to make things
happen. yes, the bottomline is this going to increase the revenue
deficit.. there is no escape from that.
my idea is to utilize NHAI's leadership in making things happen in
the road sector and use this money of $10 billion dollars(over 4
years) to build
1. the NH phase 2 and phase 3 at a faster pace and with better
quality.
2. the 10 major cities should also have world class metros and better
road traffic planning.
there should be legislation on building this infrastructure which
would make NHAI accountable for every rupee and the quality of every
piece of the road built. legislation should also cover how the NHAI
would be used after the task is accomplished (be it downsizing or
dismantling or whatever)

gold






--- In indiahighways@yahoogroups.com, "Kumar" <kumar_hv@h...> wrote:
>
> Gold,
>
> Driving from Bangalore to Kasmir via Hyderabad, Nagpur, Laknadon
(all
> the way on excellent NH7), and later on the lousy stretch via Sagar
> and Lalitpur to Jhansi (very bad roads till Lalitpur unless the new
> MP govt has done something about it recently)and then again on to
> great roads all the way to Pathankot (first NH 3 via Gwalior, Agra -

> already double-laned), switching to NH 2 from Agra (expressay to
> Delhi) and on to NH 1 (great roads) till Jalandar, and take the NH
1A
> from there on to Srinagar (which is also good except for the
Udhampur-
> Qazigund mountain sections which can be high-trafficked and slower).
>
> I did Kashmir-Kanyakumari drive 2 years ago on this route from
North-
> South, and proceeded from Bangalore to Kanyakumari via Salem, Karur
> and Madurai. I did the 3,750 kms in 4 days!
>
> Kumar
>
>
> --- In indiahighways@yahoogroups.com, "investorgold2002"
> <investorgold2002@y...> wrote:
> >
> >
> > good report. thanks. i am looking forward for the day when phase
2
> of
> > NHDP is completed. I want to make a trip from bangalore to
kashmir
> on
> > NS highway. i always feel that the country should have gone
> > for "freeways" rather than highways; difference in speed could
> easily
> > be more than 30-40% reduction in travel time. even with the
> existing
> > highway...nhai could do a lot to improve road travel and travel
> speed
> > by constructing fences, educating drivers on lane
driving,enforcing
> > lane discipline, etc.
> > anyway it is getting interesting. we should where we are 2 or 3
> years
> > from now.
> > gold
> >
> > --- In indiahighways@yahoogroups.com, "Kumar" <kumar_hv@h...>
wrote:
> > > I just returned to Bombay after my second driving holiday to
> Ladakh.
> > >
> > > Let me provide you an update of NH8  first.
> > >
> > > Bombay-Ghodbunder-Manor-Vapi (Gujarat) is now beautifully
double-
> > laned, and unlike a trip sometiem ago, dividers are lit up and
sign
> > boards decent. I took this stretch in the night. The biggest
menace
> > about double carriageways is that truckers refuse to let the
right
> > lane go, and keep lumbering too and fro.
> > >
> > > After Vapi, double-laning is complete till near Valsad;
> thereafter,
> > it is a mess as usual - I did the same stretch last year same
time
> > and I do not find any significant progress in some of the worst
> > sectors especially Valsad-Navsari. No signboards, at least once
you
> > will end up retracting your tracks because the road simply ended.
> In
> > some stretches, double-laning is almost over, but the deviations
> are
> > unmarked and often you run headlong into a truck coming in the
> wrong
> > lane, resulting from the confusion, especially in the nights.
> > >
> > > From Surat onwards, the old double road takes over (no credit
to
> > GQ), although the road condition could be better.
> > >
> > > The best part of this Bombay-Ahmedabad stretch is teh new
> Vadodara-
> > Ahmedabad expressway. Starting off the existing NH8 Vadodara By
> Pass,
> > this is one superb stretch of road, rivalling Bombay-Pune. 100
kms
> in
> > 55 minutes - that was my tally, never mind the speed limit of 100
> > kmph. Traffic is sparse, facilities non-existent and there are
very
> > lonely stretches. The best part of the expressway is that it ends
> > near Naroda in Ahmedabad, very convenient for those who wish to
go
> > beyond to Udaipur on NH8 (although the Rajkot bound may have to
> wade
> > a bit through the existing Ahmedabad By Pass). What I saw of the
> > approach roads from Ahmedabad city tothe expressway were
> > unimpressive - do they have a Ring Road-style access road from
the
> > city?
> > >
> > > Work is progresing slowly along the Ahmedabad-Himmatnagar
> stretch,
> > but after Himmatnagar, double-laning is complete up to Udapur -
> this
> > is simply one of the best legs - long ribbons of road, little
> traffic
> > or human passage, and particularly good in the ghat sections
beyond
> > Shamlaji.
> > >
> > > After Udaipur, is there a NH8 GQ - did not see too much
evidence
> of
> > work going on! The need becomes acute after Beawar when the
> intensity
> > of the traffic increases manifold, and truckers/Sumos become
> wilder!
> > This section really needs the double carriageway.
> > >
> > > Jaipur By Pass begins very impressively with the new flyovers
> > (although work at Dud and Bagnu before Jaipur) result in traffic
> > snarls), but descends into the messy Bikaner road and then the
> > treacherous road that masquerades as the Jaipur By Pass. This
road
> > can be classified as outright dangerous for cars - the condition
is
> > bad, deviations are unmarked, but most terrible is the chunks of
> tar
> > that have melted and rear up to touch the undercarriage half a
feet
> > high in the air! This is the third time in 2 years I am passing
> > through Jaipur and nothing has changed.
> > >
> > > Jaipur-Delhi expressway is becoming more and more congested and
> > till you cross Kotputli, utmost caution is recommended.
> > >
> > > All along, happy to note that several new petrol pumps have
> sprung
> > up (political largesse). Many Pure for Sures, Club HPs too.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > Kumar
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

In case anyone is interested, here is the photo album of my Sep-Oct 2004
motoring trip from Mumbai to Ladakh. The trip was for 14 days, 7,000 kms and was
in a Daewoo Matiz car (800 cc). The Matiz completed 2,50,000 kms during the
trip, and this was its second trip to Ladakh (last in 2003). Although roads are
vastly improved from last year, nevertheless the car took a severe beating
particularly because it had to scrape through lots of snow in 2 of the high
passes, in the process rupturing its gear box casing. Exhaust pipes had to be
welded 4 times during the trip as it cracked again and again in several places.
Clutch plate failed on ascent to Jalori Pass (HP) at 4,500 metres MSL (thanks to
a defective clutch release bearing that had been refitted just a month ago in
preparation for the trip). Tyres were new, but luckily they lasted the trip
without much damage, but lower arms were not spared the rigour. The car was full
up with 4 of us and our baggage. Loosened injector con!
  nects hampered our climb often as did fuel pump tubes under pressure (thanks to
the enormous load in the back seats above the fuel pump area!!! - a bad design
in the Matiz). Apart from batting through rainy nights in South Gujarat, we had
to face sub-zero temperatures at 4,500 plus metre altitudes in Ladakh and
searing heat in the Thar Desert at Jaisalmer. Terrorists in Kashmir did not get
a chnace to take a pot-shot at us since we were too busy to stop by in Srinagar
when we crossed the Kashmir Valley from North (at Zoji la after Kargil) to Jammu
in the South via the Jawahar Tunnel. The longest drive was 1,250 kms from Bombay
to Behror (100 kms short of Delhi) and the 1200 kms from Pokhran to Bombay via
Jaisalmer, both of which were non-stop (first was in 24 hours, second was in
20).

Click the link to see the photos. Will be happy to clarify any detail.

Regards,
Kumar


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Outstanding photos and an outstanding account of your travels.
Thanks for sharing them with us.

Regards,
Sridhar

ideas of what people think of investing $5 billion/year for next 3
years to urgently build non-existent infrastracture in india.

i think a lot of indians staying abroad will be prepared to go back
to india...if they build decent connectivity between important cities
in the country and more importantly build some kind of urban
transportation infrastructure that is decent and efficient.
gold

Gold,

the need to spend is hardly a contentious issue. The
moot point is - does the government really have the
money? All this talk of "using forex reserves" is
eyewash. The money is still being picked up from the
RBI. The money does not belong to the government.
These are deposits made by people like you and me,
money brought into the stock market by FIIs, etc.

The government might as well pick up rupee loans with
the RBI. The forex/rupee issue is jugglery. It doesn't
change the picture on the ground. The govt. will issue
yet more bonds, and this time the RBI will be the only
one buying them.

If the government borrows, borrows and borrows,
recklessly and relentlessly, Central govt's finances
will become like Maharashtra, and eventually degrade
like Rajasthan's.

The infrastructure issue is moot. It's needed. Far
more important is to correct other ludicrous financial
heresies, ie. cut down size of government, free up
wasted salries given to millions of employees, reduce
the debt and use the freed up money to invest in
public infrastructure.

This is what California should be doing under
Schwarzenegger, not coming out with plans to issue yet
more bonds!

Sameer


--- investorgold2002 <investorgold2002@...>
wrote:

>
>
> ideas of what people think of investing $5
> billion/year for next 3
> years to urgently build non-existent infrastracture
> in india.
>
> i think a lot of indians staying abroad will be
> prepared to go back
> to india...if they build decent connectivity between
> important cities
> in the country and more importantly build some kind
> of urban
> transportation infrastructure that is decent and
> efficient.
> gold
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> --------------------~-->
> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion
> Toolbar.
> Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free!
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--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
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>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>     indiahighways-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
>
>
>




__________________________________
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I think that if we invest in infrastructure for next 5 years. Which is
very important to maintain the growth in India otherwise the growth
will come down after that we can pay for the money invested in these
years.

As far as cutting wasteful expediture that can always be done either
using Forex Reserve or not. BUt with investment in much needed
infrastructure like airport, ports, roads and power we can increase
productivity of manufacturing and can expect to increase productivity
in rural areas by investing in rural road and power.

With increased growth we will be able to pay for the money raised.

The other point is that we need lots of money for infrastructure so
either we take it from Forex Reserve or from some financial
institution how is it different. Infact with Forex Reserves we have a
certain amount of cushion and with export boom in IT expected to
continue further in forex reserve front we can expect to have a good
show there.

I think $5 billion for basic infrastructure like roads, power and
rural infrastructure can be paid of by Government of India in 10-15 years.

Abhishek

--- In indiahighways@yahoogroups.com, Sameer Madan <sameermadan@y...>
wrote:
> Gold,
>
> the need to spend is hardly a contentious issue. The
> moot point is - does the government really have the
> money? All this talk of "using forex reserves" is
> eyewash. The money is still being picked up from the
> RBI. The money does not belong to the government.
> These are deposits made by people like you and me,
> money brought into the stock market by FIIs, etc.
>
> The government might as well pick up rupee loans with
> the RBI. The forex/rupee issue is jugglery. It doesn't
> change the picture on the ground. The govt. will issue
> yet more bonds, and this time the RBI will be the only
> one buying them
>
> If the government borrows, borrows and borrows,
> recklessly and relentlessly, Central govt's finances
> will become like Maharashtra, and eventually degrade
> like Rajasthan's.
>
> The infrastructure issue is moot. It's needed. Far
> more important is to correct other ludicrous financial
> heresies, ie. cut down size of government, free up
> wasted salries given to millions of employees, reduce
> the debt and use the freed up money to invest in
> public infrastructure.
>
> This is what California should be doing under
> Schwarzenegger, not coming out with plans to issue yet
> more bonds!
>
> Sameer
>
>
> --- investorgold2002 <investorgold2002@y...>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > ideas of what people think of investing $5
> > billion/year for next 3
> > years to urgently build non-existent infrastracture
> > in india.
> >
> > i think a lot of indians staying abroad will be
> > prepared to go back
> > to india...if they build decent connectivity between
> > important cities
> > in the country and more importantly build some kind
> > of urban
> > transportation infrastructure that is decent and
> > efficient.
> > gold
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> > --------------------~-->
> > Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion
> > Toolbar.
> > Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free!
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> >
> --------------------------------------------------------------------~->
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >     indiahighways-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________
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> http://messenger.yahoo.com

FWIW, the latest edition of India Infrastructure update is now
online.  There is a section of roads and rails as well.  Check it out
at:

http://www.jsalaw.com/files/IIU%20Aug-Sep%20Final.pdf

Cheers.

There is no real question what is needed, build a full interstate
freeway standard Highway network, pay for it with increased fuel
taxes, cutting subsidies and sale of the state railways.  Four
laning is a waste of money, disrupts communities and produces a
substandard highway.  Spend the money and do it right...  Full
freeway is the only way to go - build on a NEW parallel alignment
that bypasses small towns and build beltways around major cities.

Half hearted effort gets half hearted results...

This is Indias's chance to become a developed nation, do it right.

Yes i also perceive the talk on using "forex reserves" as eyewash;
just for people who know something about economics to show-off to the
common people that don't know anything. most people try to make
economics(which in my opinion is a simple subject) complex.

But my question to you was different. Do we need to spend $5 billion
to build infrastructure for the next 3 years despite the deficit. IMO
the answer is an emphatic YES.

GOld

--- In indiahighways@yahoogroups.com, Sameer Madan <sameermadan@y...>
wrote:
> Gold,
>
> the need to spend is hardly a contentious issue. The
> moot point is - does the government really have the
> money? All this talk of "using forex reserves" is
> eyewash. The money is still being picked up from the
> RBI. The money does not belong to the government.
> These are deposits made by people like you and me,
> money brought into the stock market by FIIs, etc.
>
> The government might as well pick up rupee loans with
> the RBI. The forex/rupee issue is jugglery. It doesn't
> change the picture on the ground. The govt. will issue
> yet more bonds, and this time the RBI will be the only
> one buying them.
>
> If the government borrows, borrows and borrows,
> recklessly and relentlessly, Central govt's finances
> will become like Maharashtra, and eventually degrade
> like Rajasthan's.
>
> The infrastructure issue is moot. It's needed. Far
> more important is to correct other ludicrous financial
> heresies, ie. cut down size of government, free up
> wasted salries given to millions of employees, reduce
> the debt and use the freed up money to invest in
> public infrastructure.
>
> This is what California should be doing under
> Schwarzenegger, not coming out with plans to issue yet
> more bonds!
>
> Sameer
>
>
> --- investorgold2002 <investorgold2002@y...>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > ideas of what people think of investing $5
> > billion/year for next 3
> > years to urgently build non-existent infrastracture
> > in india.
> >
> > i think a lot of indians staying abroad will be
> > prepared to go back
> > to india...if they build decent connectivity between
> > important cities
> > in the country and more importantly build some kind
> > of urban
> > transportation infrastructure that is decent and
> > efficient.
> > gold
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> > --------------------~-->
> > Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion
> > Toolbar.
> > Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free!
> >
> http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/bgxwlB/TM
> >
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
~->
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >     indiahighways-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Y! Messenger - Communicate in real time. Download now.
> http://messenger.yahoo.com

My point is that we need a fundamental shift in the spending that we
are doing in infrastructure. And that fundamental shift can come from
forex reserve as we need to spend about $5billion every year
definitely then why not forex reserve.

Well the best way would be that private sector takes the tab and
invests as much as possible. But given the reservations of our present
government with respect to FDI we are stuck, we have to spend as much
possible from the government only and so why not forex reserves rather
than taking loans from multilateral institutions.

Abhishek

--- In indiahighways@yahoogroups.com, "investorgold2002"
<investorgold2002@y...> wrote:
>
> Yes i also perceive the talk on using "forex reserves" as eyewash;
> just for people who know something about economics to show-off to the
> common people that don't know anything. most people try to make
> economics(which in my opinion is a simple subject) complex.
>
> But my question to you was different. Do we need to spend $5 billion
> to build infrastructure for the next 3 years despite the deficit. IMO
> the answer is an emphatic YES.
>
> GOld
>
> --- In indiahighways@yahoogroups.com, Sameer Madan <sameermadan@y...>
> wrote:
> > Gold,
> >
> > the need to spend is hardly a contentious issue. The
> > moot point is - does the government really have the
> > money? All this talk of "using forex reserves" is
> > eyewash. The money is still being picked up from the
> > RBI. The money does not belong to the government.
> > These are deposits made by people like you and me,
> > money brought into the stock market by FIIs, etc.
> >
> > The government might as well pick up rupee loans with
> > the RBI. The forex/rupee issue is jugglery. It doesn't
> > change the picture on the ground. The govt. will issue
> > yet more bonds, and this time the RBI will be the only
> > one buying them.
> >
> > If the government borrows, borrows and borrows,
> > recklessly and relentlessly, Central govt's finances
> > will become like Maharashtra, and eventually degrade
> > like Rajasthan's.
> >
> > The infrastructure issue is moot. It's needed. Far
> > more important is to correct other ludicrous financial
> > heresies, ie. cut down size of government, free up
> > wasted salries given to millions of employees, reduce
> > the debt and use the freed up money to invest in
> > public infrastructure.
> >
> > This is what California should be doing under
> > Schwarzenegger, not coming out with plans to issue yet
> > more bonds!
> >
> > Sameer
> >
> >
> > --- investorgold2002 <investorgold2002@y...>
> > wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > ideas of what people think of investing $5
> > > billion/year for next 3
> > > years to urgently build non-existent infrastracture
> > > in india.
> > >
> > > i think a lot of indians staying abroad will be
> > > prepared to go back
> > > to india...if they build decent connectivity between
> > > important cities
> > > in the country and more importantly build some kind
> > > of urban
> > > transportation infrastructure that is decent and
> > > efficient.
> > > gold
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> > > --------------------~-->
> > > Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion
> > > Toolbar.
> > > Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free!
> > >
> > http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/bgxwlB/TM
> > >
> > --------------------------------------------------------------------
> ~->
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >     indiahighways-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > __________________________________
> > Do you Yahoo!?
> > Y! Messenger - Communicate in real time. Download now.
> > http://messenger.yahoo.com

I am not sure whether the talks of using forex reserves for
investement in infrastructure is a eyewash or not, but one thing I am
convinced ,we require huge investement's in the area of
infrastructure.
   Good infrastructure is a symbol of nations strength and
prosperity.Our economy can grow only if our infrastructure is strong.
    The talks of "Gharibi hatao" only sounds good in speeches.The
money which the government gives as subsidies never reaches the
common man.There is no point in investment in this area.It will only
fill the pockets of the netas.
   Its time for action now and investment in infrastructure is the
only way out for our nation to move away from the path of developing
nation to become a developed nation.
   one word of caution though,it will make sense to invest in
infrastructure from  the forex reserves only if the money is utilised
and monitored properly.Only then  it will yield high returns.
Otherwise it will yet another corruption story.




--- In indiahighways@yahoogroups.com, "investorgold2002"
<investorgold2002@y...> wrote:
>
> Yes i also perceive the talk on using "forex reserves" as eyewash;
> just for people who know something about economics to show-off to
the
> common people that don't know anything. most people try to make
> economics(which in my opinion is a simple subject) complex.
>
> But my question to you was different. Do we need to spend $5
billion
> to build infrastructure for the next 3 years despite the deficit.
IMO
> the answer is an emphatic YES.
>
> GOld
>
> --- In indiahighways@yahoogroups.com, Sameer Madan
<sameermadan@y...>
> wrote:
> > Gold,
> >
> > the need to spend is hardly a contentious issue. The
> > moot point is - does the government really have the
> > money? All this talk of "using forex reserves" is
> > eyewash. The money is still being picked up from the
> > RBI. The money does not belong to the government.
> > These are deposits made by people like you and me,
> > money brought into the stock market by FIIs, etc.
> >
> > The government might as well pick up rupee loans with
> > the RBI. The forex/rupee issue is jugglery. It doesn't
> > change the picture on the ground. The govt. will issue
> > yet more bonds, and this time the RBI will be the only
> > one buying them.
> >
> > If the government borrows, borrows and borrows,
> > recklessly and relentlessly, Central govt's finances
> > will become like Maharashtra, and eventually degrade
> > like Rajasthan's.
> >
> > The infrastructure issue is moot. It's needed. Far
> > more important is to correct other ludicrous financial
> > heresies, ie. cut down size of government, free up
> > wasted salries given to millions of employees, reduce
> > the debt and use the freed up money to invest in
> > public infrastructure.
> >
> > This is what California should be doing under
> > Schwarzenegger, not coming out with plans to issue yet
> > more bonds!
> >
> > Sameer
> >
> >
> > --- investorgold2002 <investorgold2002@y...>
> > wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > ideas of what people think of investing $5
> > > billion/year for next 3
> > > years to urgently build non-existent infrastracture
> > > in india.
> > >
> > > i think a lot of indians staying abroad will be
> > > prepared to go back
> > > to india...if they build decent connectivity between
> > > important cities
> > > in the country and more importantly build some kind
> > > of urban
> > > transportation infrastructure that is decent and
> > > efficient.
> > > gold
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> > > --------------------~-->
> > > Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion
> > > Toolbar.
> > > Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free!
> > >
> > http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/bgxwlB/TM
> > >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------
--
> ~->
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >     indiahighways-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > __________________________________
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> > Y! Messenger - Communicate in real time. Download now.
> > http://messenger.yahoo.com

Sorry to say you don't understand this issue. I will explain in
another message later. forex reserves is not free money.

--- In indiahighways@yahoogroups.com, "abhi_drolia"
<abhi_drolia@y...> wrote:
>
> My point is that we need a fundamental shift in the spending that we
> are doing in infrastructure. And that fundamental shift can come
from
> forex reserve as we need to spend about $5billion every year
> definitely then why not forex reserve.
>
> Well the best way would be that private sector takes the tab and
> invests as much as possible. But given the reservations of our
present
> government with respect to FDI we are stuck, we have to spend as
much
> possible from the government only and so why not forex reserves
rather
> than taking loans from multilateral institutions.
>
> Abhishek
>
> --- In indiahighways@yahoogroups.com, "investorgold2002"
> <investorgold2002@y...> wrote:
> >
> > Yes i also perceive the talk on using "forex reserves" as
eyewash;
> > just for people who know something about economics to show-off to
the
> > common people that don't know anything. most people try to make
> > economics(which in my opinion is a simple subject) complex.
> >
> > But my question to you was different. Do we need to spend $5
billion
> > to build infrastructure for the next 3 years despite the deficit.
IMO
> > the answer is an emphatic YES.
> >
> > GOld
> >
> > --- In indiahighways@yahoogroups.com, Sameer Madan
<sameermadan@y...>
> > wrote:
> > > Gold,
> > >
> > > the need to spend is hardly a contentious issue. The
> > > moot point is - does the government really have the
> > > money? All this talk of "using forex reserves" is
> > > eyewash. The money is still being picked up from the
> > > RBI. The money does not belong to the government.
> > > These are deposits made by people like you and me,
> > > money brought into the stock market by FIIs, etc.
> > >
> > > The government might as well pick up rupee loans with
> > > the RBI. The forex/rupee issue is jugglery. It doesn't
> > > change the picture on the ground. The govt. will issue
> > > yet more bonds, and this time the RBI will be the only
> > > one buying them.
> > >
> > > If the government borrows, borrows and borrows,
> > > recklessly and relentlessly, Central govt's finances
> > > will become like Maharashtra, and eventually degrade
> > > like Rajasthan's.
> > >
> > > The infrastructure issue is moot. It's needed. Far
> > > more important is to correct other ludicrous financial
> > > heresies, ie. cut down size of government, free up
> > > wasted salries given to millions of employees, reduce
> > > the debt and use the freed up money to invest in
> > > public infrastructure.
> > >
> > > This is what California should be doing under
> > > Schwarzenegger, not coming out with plans to issue yet
> > > more bonds!
> > >
> > > Sameer
> > >
> > >
> > > --- investorgold2002 <investorgold2002@y...>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ideas of what people think of investing $5
> > > > billion/year for next 3
> > > > years to urgently build non-existent infrastracture
> > > > in india.
> > > >
> > > > i think a lot of indians staying abroad will be
> > > > prepared to go back
> > > > to india...if they build decent connectivity between
> > > > important cities
> > > > in the country and more importantly build some kind
> > > > of urban
> > > > transportation infrastructure that is decent and
> > > > efficient.
> > > > gold
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> > > > --------------------~-->
> > > > Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion
> > > > Toolbar.
> > > > Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free!
> > > >
> > > http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/bgxwlB/TM
> > > >
> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------
----
> > ~->
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >     indiahighways-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > __________________________________
> > > Do you Yahoo!?
> > > Y! Messenger - Communicate in real time. Download now.
> > > http://messenger.yahoo.com

Gold:

my reply -

the infrastructure investment has been critically
needed for at least 57 years now! That tells you how I
perceive the need for it. However, if we are going to
do it, we have to do it right. We cannot do it at any
and every cost. And the government starting to run the
RBI's monetary policy is the worst possible way to
arrange for the funding.

Use forex, issue bonds against it, make the RBI buy
them... The next thing we know, the RBI will be
another pawn of the central government, just like all
PSU's, being asked to cover up for the next financial
institution failure like UTI, IDBI, etc.

The autonomy of the RBI is crucial for India to be a
financially sound(er) economy compared to countries
like China, where the government makes banks lend to
projects of the government's choice. And trust me,
this is not one area in which China is deemed ahead of
India ( financial system maturity ). For India to be a
developed country, sound financial systems and
policies are at least as important as quality
infrastructure. Otherwise rich states like Maharashtra
keep reeling under debt perpetually.

The World Bank is increasing lending to India to
2.5Billion per year. The government should also
downsize, cut wasteful expenditure, and pump money
into infrastructure on a sustainable basis. IMO, That
is the only right way to do things, in the long run.

Sameer


--- investorgold2002 <investorgold2002@...>
wrote:

>
>
> Sorry to say you don't understand this issue. I will
> explain in
> another message later. forex reserves is not free
> money.
>
> --- In indiahighways@yahoogroups.com, "abhi_drolia"
> <abhi_drolia@y...> wrote:
> >
> > My point is that we need a fundamental shift in
> the spending that we
> > are doing in infrastructure. And that fundamental
> shift can come
> from
> > forex reserve as we need to spend about $5billion
> every year
> > definitely then why not forex reserve.
> >
> > Well the best way would be that private sector
> takes the tab and
> > invests as much as possible. But given the
> reservations of our
> present
> > government with respect to FDI we are stuck, we
> have to spend as
> much
> > possible from the government only and so why not
> forex reserves
> rather
> > than taking loans from multilateral institutions.
> >
> > Abhishek
> >
> > --- In indiahighways@yahoogroups.com,
> "investorgold2002"
> > <investorgold2002@y...> wrote:
> > >
> > > Yes i also perceive the talk on using "forex
> reserves" as
> eyewash;
> > > just for people who know something about
> economics to show-off to
> the
> > > common people that don't know anything. most
> people try to make
> > > economics(which in my opinion is a simple
> subject) complex.
> > >
> > > But my question to you was different. Do we need
> to spend $5
> billion
> > > to build infrastructure for the next 3 years
> despite the deficit.
> IMO
> > > the answer is an emphatic YES.
> > >
> > > GOld
> > >
> > > --- In indiahighways@yahoogroups.com, Sameer
> Madan
> <sameermadan@y...>
> > > wrote:
> > > > Gold,
> > > >
> > > > the need to spend is hardly a contentious
> issue. The
> > > > moot point is - does the government really
> have the
> > > > money? All this talk of "using forex reserves"
> is
> > > > eyewash. The money is still being picked up
> from the
> > > > RBI. The money does not belong to the
> government.
> > > > These are deposits made by people like you and
> me,
> > > > money brought into the stock market by FIIs,
> etc.
> > > >
> > > > The government might as well pick up rupee
> loans with
> > > > the RBI. The forex/rupee issue is jugglery. It
> doesn't
> > > > change the picture on the ground. The govt.
> will issue
> > > > yet more bonds, and this time the RBI will be
> the only
> > > > one buying them.
> > > >
> > > > If the government borrows, borrows and
> borrows,
> > > > recklessly and relentlessly, Central govt's
> finances
> > > > will become like Maharashtra, and eventually
> degrade
> > > > like Rajasthan's.
> > > >
> > > > The infrastructure issue is moot. It's needed.
> Far
> > > > more important is to correct other ludicrous
> financial
> > > > heresies, ie. cut down size of government,
> free up
> > > > wasted salries given to millions of employees,
> reduce
> > > > the debt and use the freed up money to invest
> in
> > > > public infrastructure.
> > > >
> > > > This is what California should be doing under
> > > > Schwarzenegger, not coming out with plans to
> issue yet
> > > > more bonds!
> > > >
> > > > Sameer
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- investorgold2002 <investorgold2002@y...>
> > > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > ideas of what people think of investing $5
> > > > > billion/year for next 3
> > > > > years to urgently build non-existent
> infrastracture
> > > > > in india.
> > > > >
> > > > > i think a lot of indians staying abroad will
> be
> > > > > prepared to go back
> > > > > to india...if they build decent connectivity
> between
> > > > > important cities
> > > > > in the country and more importantly build
> some kind
> > > > > of urban
> > > > > transportation infrastructure that is decent
> and
> > > > > efficient.
> > > > > gold
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
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