Economy & Market
History Rewritten
Published
8 years agoon
By
adminIndian Railways have scripted history by quietly conducting a trial run of the country?s first Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) which will come up between two districts in rural Bihar.
The train carried 5,265 tonnes of clinker, an intermediate product for cement manufacturing, loaded on 58 wagons on the 56-km new stretch between Durgawati and Sasaram, the bastion of late Dalit leader Babu Jagjivan Ram.
The trial run brought India a step closer to joining the select club of nations, including the US, China, Australia and South Africa, with operational dedicated freight-specific lines.The double line electrified Durgawati-Sasaram section is being commissioned with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore entirely funded by Indian Railways? equity. The pilot stretch on the eastern arm of the DFC project would divert largely coal freight from the existing rail network. The DFC has eliminated 18 level-crossings on the 56-km stretch by building road over-bridges.
The section is being constructed with an average investment of Rs 20 crore per km. The Dedicated Freight Corridor Company (DFCC), entrusted with the task, is currently building more than 3,350 km of double-track freight-specific lines from Ludhiana in Punjab to Dankuni in West Bengal as the Eastern DFC, and from Dadri in Uttar Pradesh to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Navi Mumbai as the Western DFC.
The DFCC has acquired more than 89 per cent of the 11,550 hectares of land required for the project and has tied up funding from the World Bank for the Eastern DFC and Japan International Cooperation Agency for the Western DFC.
Contracts worth Rs 24,102 crore were awarded in 2015-16 as against contracts worth Rs 13,000 crore finalised in the previous six years.
?The DFCC has finalised civil contracts for 2,138 km (76 per cent), electrical contracts for 1,786 km (63 per cent) and signalling & telecom contracts for 1,356 km (48 per cent) of the length of the project,? an official said.
The DFCC will purchase 200 locomotives for the western arm of the project from Japan and that order is being finalised at the Board level.
When commissioned, the eastern and the western arms of the DFCC will divert up to 40 per cent of freight traffic from Indian Railways and push the rail?s share of freight from the existing 36 per cent to 45 per cent.
JK Cement stops clinker production from Karnataka plant
JK Cement has informed stock exchanges that it has stopped clinker production at its Muddapur, Taluka Mudhol, Dist. Baglakot, South site (in Karnataka) on account of cracks being developed in its CF silo. This is the raw meal feeding silo to the kiln and as a measure to avoid collateral damage, the company has stopped kiln production temporarily. No material clinker inventory being currently present, volumes are likely to be impacted for the next 30-40 days. JK Cement dispatches nearly 5,000 tonnes of daily production of cement from this facility. This is the second instance when damage is being observed in a silo at its southern site.
Further, JK Cement has also said that power connectivity has been commissioned at its UAE site. Till date the plant was operating on diesel generating sets.
Cement prices cut in Himachal
Cement producers have decided to cut prices by Rs 10 per bag in Himachal Pradesh with immediate effect, the state government has said.
Cement companies had recently announced a price hike, forcing the state government to intervene in the matter.
State Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri asked Principal Secretary R D Dhiman to take up the matter with cement manufacturers.
Consequently, a high-level meeting was held here under the chairmanship of Dhiman. The meeting was attended by Director-Industries Amit Kashyap and representatives of ACC, Gujarat Ambuja and JP Cements.
It was decided in the meeting that all cement producers would slash prices of cement by Rs 10 per bag with immediate effect, an official spokesman said.
It was agreed in the meeting that rates of cement in the bordering areas of Himachal Pradesh would be at par or lower than the rates in the neighbouring states.
Adulterated cement selling racket busted
The Khour police (in Jammu) have busted an illegal cement selling racket by arresting three persons.
As per police sources, a complaint was lodged by Gittan Sharma, son of Daya Ram, a resident of Camp Khour with police station Khour on April 20 regarding illegal trade of cement.
Acting on the complaint, a case was registered at Khour police station and an investigation was started.
During the investigation, the accused disclosed that he along with his associates used to buy inferior quality cement from the mini plants of Kathua, and after procuring original used bags of Ambuja Cement, they used to refill the cement in these branded bags at rented shops and godowns at Rara Ramnagar.
After packing the cement in these ?branded? bags, the accused used to sell the cement bags at Akhnoor and Khour. They were engaged in this business for the last several months.
A total of 445 bags of spurious and substandard cement have been seized by the police.
RMC trucks emit cloud of dust
While citizens across Mumbai have been complaining of worsening air quality, residents of Sion?s Everard Nagar are particularly at risk because of constant movement of trucks from a nearby RMC plant.
The cloud of dust and pollutants that the trucks leave behind has already landed some residents and compelled a senior citizen to relocate to Goa.
?A ready mix truck passes by our society almost every minute. They go to the ACC plant located on KJ Somaiya grounds and use the same service road on the way back. There are two speed breakers on the stretch and every time a truck stops, it releases some dust and cement that enters our homes,? said Saraswathi Sundareswaran, who has been leading the society?s fight against the polluting vehicles.
Saraswathi has taken up the issue with the BMC, police, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), ACC Limited, and KJ Somaiya, but RMC trucks continue to ply on the service road.
?An MPCB official came to our society a few weeks ago. He just stood near the gate and asked us, ?Where is the cement? I don?t see anything?,? she said.
The in-charge at the ACC concrete batching plant said the company had deployed five men to clean the road regularly.?We use water to clean the road to ensure the dust does not rise. Lately, there has been a water shortage in the city, so it has been difficult to wash the road,? said Rohan from the plant.
According to one of the five workers, around five to six sacks of cement is collected from the service road. V Rangnathan, secretary of KJ Somaiya, said he had held several meetings with residents to try and solve the problem.
ASTM award goes to BASF?s Goodwin
ASTM International?s Committee on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates (C09) has presented its top annual award – the Award of Merit – to Fred Goodwin of BASF Construction Chemicals in Beachwood, Ohio, U.S.A. The prestigious award, which includes the accompanying title of Fellow, is ASTM?s highest recognition for individual contributions to developing standards.
The committee honored Goodwin for his dedicated work to develop standards in a number of areas, including hydraulic cement grouts, packaged dry combined materials, and polymer modified concrete and mortars. He has been a member of ASTM since 1991 and received the Award of Appreciation from the same group in 2011.
Goodwin is head of the BASF Construction Chemicals Global Corrosion Competency Center, providing technical expertise and driving research and development on grouts, adhesives, concrete materials, and more. He previously served as a principal scientist with Degussa Construction Chemicals, a technology manager with ChemRex, a plant chemist with Mapei Corporation, and a chief chemist for River Cement Company.
Restart of RMC units in Mumbai
In the last week of April 2016, the Member-Secretary of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has given permission to restart the closed Ready Mixed Plants in Mumbai on certain conditions. The conditions laid down are for arresting the emission of dust from these RMC plants either during the movement of trucks or while transferring materials like sand, aggregates etc. All the conditions have to be complied by 30th June 2016. Out of 12 plants closed, 3 are still waiting to restart. This is a big relief to RMC operators in Mumbai.
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As part of the 10th India Construction Festival, the RAHSTA Awards recognised outstanding contributions to the road construction industry.
On October 10, 2024, the RAHSTA Awards were held at the Jio Convention Centre in Mumbai, forming a significant part of the 10th India Construction Festival. This esteemed event serves as a pivotal platform for recognising and honouring outstanding contributions in the road construction industry, particularly those that prioritise sustainability, innovation and excellence.
RAHSTA, an acronym for ‘Roads and Highways Sustainable Technologies & Advancement’, has become synonymous with the promotion of advancements in road construction equipment and technologies. Organised by the FIRST Construction Council, the awards seek to highlight the importance of sustainable practices in infrastructure development and celebrate those organisations that lead the way in this critical area.
At the event, Pratap Padode, Founder, FIRST Construction Council, underscored the importance of skilling the workforce in the construction sector. He pointed out that construction is India’s second-largest employer, with the potential to reach 100 million jobs by 2030. However, he emphasised that a significant portion of this workforce remains unskilled, with 80 per cent of the 70 million workers lacking adequate training.
“To bridge this skill gap, we must incorporate practical orientation in engineering and management courses,” Padode urged. He highlighted the Indian Government’s initiative to onboard 1 crore interns through CSR funding over five years, encouraging construction companies to participate actively
in this programme. By doing so, he said, the industry could not only enhance skill development but also position itself for future growth and sustainability.
The RAHSTA Awards recognised seven outstanding contributions to the road construction sector, celebrating innovations that drive sustainability and efficiency:
- Award for Highest Standards of Excellence in Road Engineering & Construction: Patel Infrastructure
- Award for Excellence in Bridge Engineering: L&T Construction, DIAL Phase 3A Project
- Best Road Financier Award: HDFC Bank
- Award for Best Use of Waste Material Recycling in Road Construction: Tata Steel
- Best Digital Technology Award in Road Building: Cube Highways and Transport Assets Advisors
- Award for Excellence in Project Management: Haryana Rural Road Infrastructure Development Agency
- Innovation Award in Project Execution:
- CC Precast Solutions
Indeed, the RAHSTA Awards 2024 were more than just a ceremony; they represented a vital call to action for the road construction sector in India. By highlighting the importance of sustainability and technological advancement, the awards inspired industry stakeholders to strive for excellence
and innovation.
As the event concluded, it left attendees with a renewed sense of purpose and a collective vision for a more sustainable and efficient future in infrastructure development. The RAHSTA Awards stand as a testament to the possibilities that lie ahead when industry leaders come together to embrace change and foster growth.
The titans of the construction equipment industry were honoured at the 12th BKT Equipment India Awards 2024.
On October 10, 2024, Mumbai played host to the much-anticipated 12th BKT Equipment India Awards 2024, an event that recognised and celebrated the outstanding achievements within the construction equipment sector. The grand ceremony took place at Jio Convention Centre and was among the highlights of the India Construction Festival, which gathered industry leaders, manufacturers and financiers from across the nation to honour innovation and excellence in this vital sector.
The inaugural addresses set a reflective tone for the evening, emphasising the importance of collaboration and information sharing within the industry. In his opening speech, Pratap Padode, Founder, First Construction Council, remarked, “At Equipment India, we have always tried to enhance the standard of the industry. During this 17th year of our existence, we still find that companies are trying to hide behind a veil as far as the disclosure of factual data is concerned.” His emphasis on transparency resonated with the audience, highlighting the critical need for the construction equipment sector to adopt best practices for data sharing, akin to those seen in the automobile industry.
For his part, Vipin Sondhi, Chairman, RAHSTA Committee, and former MD and CEO, JCB India and Ashok Leyland, also shared optimistic insights, stating, “Today, we celebrate not just the figures but the remarkable individuals behind them – the innovators, manufacturers and teams that push the boundaries of what’s possible.” He highlighted the impressive growth of equipment sales, which saw a 26 per cent increase during FY2023-24, reflecting strong market recovery and renewed confidence.
The 12th BKT Equipment India Awards not only celebrated the achievements of key players in the construction equipment sector but also served as a reminder of the collective effort required to drive the industry forward. The event reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the industry’s ongoing evolution, ensuring that India remains a significant player in the global construction equipment market. With the industry poised to grow at a CAGR of 12 per cent, reaching $25 billion by the end of the decade, the evening left attendees inspired and motivated to continue pushing boundaries in their respective fields.
A significant highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Equipment India Person of the Year 2024 award to Jaideep Shekhar, Managing Director, Terex India. Under his astute leadership, the company has achieved remarkable growth, marked by innovation and a commitment to excellence. The jury praised his strategic vision, which has not only propelled the company’s success but also contributed positively to the broader industry landscape.
Receiving the award, Shekhar expressed heartfelt gratitude, stating, “I’m deeply grateful to the jury and Equipment India for this remarkable honour. This award reflects not only my contributions but also the dedication and hard work of my team. I have been associated with the industry for more than 25 years and this award motivates me to keep pushing boundaries and to lead the growth
with integrity.”
The award presentation was made all the more special by the presence of previous winners of the Equipment India Persons of the Year, including Vipin Sondhi, former MD and CEO, JCB India (Equipment India Person of the Year 2013); Sandeep Singh, Managing Director, Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery (Equipment India Person of the Year 2015); and Dimitrov Krishnan, Managing Director, Volvo Construction Equipment India (Equipment India Person of the Year 2013).
The event also witnessed the recognition of numerous companies across various categories, showcasing the best of the best in the construction equipment sector. Indeed, as the industry gears up for future challenges, the awards stood as a testament to resilience, creativity and the unwavering spirit of collaboration. Together, the participants are set to build a brighter tomorrow for the construction equipment industry in India, fostering innovation and sustainable practices that will serve the nation for years to come.
Winners of the 12th BKT Equipment India Awards
- Equipment India Person of the Year 2024:Jaideep Shekhar, Managing Director, Terex IndiaGreen Factory of the Year: Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery
- Best After-Sales Service Provider: Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery
- Concrete Pumps: Schwing Stetter India
- Truck Cranes: Sany Heavy Industry India
- Asphalt Plants: Ammann India
- Asphalt Finishers: Ammann India
- Batching Plants: Schwing Stetter India
- Crawler Cranes: Sany Heavy Industry India
- Piling Rigs: Sany Heavy Industry India
- Rigid Dump Trucks: Caterpillar India
- Motor Graders: Caterpillar India
- Mini Excavators: Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery
- Crawler Excavators: Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery
- Mobile Cranes: Action Construction Equipment
- Crawler Dozers: BEML
- Skid-Steer Loaders: Doosan Bobcat India
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“I congratulate ASAPP Info Global on the outstanding success of the conference and award shows! It was a privilege to be part of such an insightful session with industry leaders.”
– Sanjay Koul, President- India and South East Asia and Managing Director, Timken India
Concrete
22nd CONSTRUCTION WORLD Global Awards Excellence Revisited!
Published
4 weeks agoon
November 23, 2024By
RoshnaAt the 22nd CONSTRUCTION WORLD Global Awards, over 50 awards in 21categories were presented to industry stalwarts.
The 22nd CONSTRUCTION WORLD Global Awards, was held on October 9 and 10, 2024, at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, and hosted by infrastructure think-tank FIRST Construction Council in partnership with CONSTRUCTION WORLD (CW) and Equipment India (EI) magazines. Incidentally, the spectacular RAHSTA Expo was India’s first indoor trade fair for construction equipment technology.
Benchmarked to global standards
At the inaugural session, Sanjay Bhatia, Upa-Lokayukta, Government of Maharashtra, along with Vipin Sondhi, Chairman, RAHSTA Expo Committee, and Pratap Padode, Founder, FIRST Construction Council, inaugurated the RAHSTA Expo. Expressing delight at the huge display of construction technology, Bhatia said, “The expo has put the construction industry on an international standard. India is experiencing nation-building at a robust pace and I am truly impressed with the work now being done by our youth with their startups, many of whom are showcasing their innovation here.”
Special bytes
At the 22nd CONSTRUCTION WORLD Global Awards, over 50 awards in 21 categories were presented to over 50 companies.
“I am thrilled to accept this award on behalf of Century Ply,” said Anup Mangaserri, Chief Executive Officer – Laminates, Century Plyboards India.
“It’s an honour to be recognised and I extend my heartfelt thanks.”
“Tata Consulting Engineers has made significant strides in nation-building projects in India and
high-impact engineering efforts abroad,” said BR Parthasarathy, Senior Vice President and Head – Infrastructure Cluster, Tata Consulting Engineers (TCE), sharing his pride in receiving the ENR Award. “This recognition underscores our global capabilities and we are honoured to be part of this journey.”
For his part, Sarat Chandak, CEO, H&R Johnson, said, “We are truly delighted to receive this award as the most admired brand in the construction world. This recognition reflects the dedication and hard work of the brand over its six-year journey in India. Thank you for acknowledging our efforts.”
And Sandeep Desai, Executive Director, and Ananta Rayaprolu, Director, Afcons Infrastructure, noted, “This is a proud moment for the entire Afcons team to have this particular trophy and prestigious award. Afcons has always been at the forefront of extreme engineering, and we are really happy for this acknowledgment, which motivates us to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation.”
Joining the chorus of gratitude, Manish Kumar, Executive Vice President, ITD Cementation, stated, “It is an incredible honour to receive this award and to be here for this event, which is very well organised. Being recognised among the best of our peers in the industry is truly a privilege. I accept this on behalf of my team and company and we are deeply grateful for this recognition.”
Many winners addressed the efforts that led to their recognition. “We are extremely proud and thankful that our founder has received the CW Person of the Year (Private Sector) award,” said Hardik Agrawal, Director, Dineshchandra Agrawal (DRAIPL). “This recognition reflects the relentless efforts of the entire Dinesh Chandra Group. We are deeply motivated by this honour and we thank the CONSTRUCTION WORLD Global Awards for this acknowledgment.” And Lalit Chhabra, Managing Director, PINI India, added, “It is a tremendous honour to receive this award. We are delighted that our global efforts have been recognised. This is a testament to what we have done in the past and our hard work. We look forward to improving our ranking in the years to come.”
Sharing his excitement, Ryoya Watanabe,
Senior Manager – BD & Marketing Division, Nippon Koei India, said, “We are headquartered in Tokyo and I am excited and honoured to accept this prestigious award. Thank you very much for this recognition.”
Meanwhile, Saji Samuel, Executive Vice President (Long Products), JSW Steel, brought the conversation around to India’s bright future. “I feel elated with this award because this is going to propel India into a five trillion-dollar economy as quickly as possible,” he remarked. “I wish CONSTRUCTION WORLD all the very best and hope many new companies will participate in this event going forward. I feel very proud to hold this trophy in my hand on behalf of my company.”
This collection of leaders from different sectors was a showcase of the diversity and excellence celebrated by these prestigious awards, marking significant milestones in their respective industries.
As Rajiv Poddar, Managing Director, BKT, observed, “India Construction Festival 2024 has once again proven to be an invaluable platform for the construction equipment industry. The convergence of innovative ideas and collaborative efforts showcased here reflects our collective commitment to growth and excellence. Congratulations to ASAPP Info Global for orchestrating such a successful event and to all the award winners – your achievements are a testament to the bright future of our industry.”
An event to remember Another highlight of the event was the launch of Pratap Padode’s book, Tarmac to Towers – India’s Infrastructure Story.
Indeed, in keeping with tradition, the annual CWGA Awards ceremony was a memorable celebration of architectural achievements and a platform for dialogue on critical issues affecting the construction industry.