Infratweets: Greenbacks for green energy

Record renewable energy investment in 2015
According to the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) annual publication, the global investment in new renewables capacity, at $266 billion, was more than double the estimated $130 billion invested in coal and gas power stations in 2015. Significantly, the developing world investments in renewables topped those of developed nations for the first time.

Funds coming in: After European Inv Bank’s loan to Lucknow Metro comes news that KFW of Germany will give a R3750 cr loan to Nagpur Metro.

Germany’s KFW to bankroll Nagpur Metro
KFW, German government’s development bank, is all set to finance the proposed Nagpur Metro rail. The estimated project cost is R8,680 crore. The remaining funds would come from the Centre and the state government.

Laudable objective: Heartening to hear @PiyushGoyal saying that “…Govt’s mission is to have one nation, one grid, one price.”

Power parity
Power minister Piyush Goyal has stated that the government’s goal is to achieve uniform power rates across the country. He pointed out that by using “Vidyut Pravah”—a mobile application—anyone can find out the rate at which power is available on the grid.

Monetising PSUs: By April-end NITI Aayog coming up with 2 lists (1) Where Govt to sell stake (2) Terminally sick—so asset sales route.

Prioritising PSU divestment
NITI Aayog’s roadmap for the divestment of PSUs is seen as a major initiative in the government’s efforts for better management of investment in central public sector enterprises. The government aims to collect R56,500 crore through PSU disinvestment this fiscal, as per the Budget for 2016-17.

Buzz in corridors ~ after PM Modi’s successful visit to Saudi Arabia, they may announce an investment in NIIF upping UAE’s $75 bill pledge.

A new partnership in the offing?
The Prime Minister interacted with top Saudi CEOs and business leaders and invited them to participate in infrastructure building in India through the Smart Cities, Digital India and Start-up India programmes. Saudi Arabia is planning to set up the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund of around R132.46 lakh crore.

Tapping into hydro-meteorological data
The National Hydrology Project will facilitate integrated water resource management through collation and management of hydro-meteorological data. It will also help in water resource assessment and prioritise its allocation and use for irrigation. While the World Bank will provide a loan for 50% of the cost of the project, the remaining would come from budgetary support.

Nitin Gadkari says that work on a “pod car system” between Delhi & Gurgaon expected to start by June 1. Like a fixed route taxi on rails.

Pod cars: new mode of public transport
Pod cars are a public transport mode featuring small automated vehicles operating on a network of specially built guideways, usually hanging electric cars. Work is expected to begin on such a mode of group travel along the 12.3-km stretch from the Delhi-Gurgaon border to Sohna Road.

New googly from Nat Green Tribunal. Asks DGCA why night curfew should not be imposed on flights to reduce noise pollution around airports.

Noise pollution raises NGT’s hackles
The National Green Tribunal took the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to task for not implementing norms to reduce noise pollution in residential neighbourhoods that are situated close to airports. The DGCA, on the other hand, claimed it has adopted noise mitigation measures like Continuous Descent Approach as a landing method.

—Vinayak Chatterjee is Chairman of Feedback Infra
His Twitter handle: @Infra_VinayakCh
A weekly selection of the author’s tweets—
with a brief backgrounder—in the infra space, by Adite Banerjie