Iskra ( The Spark)

Editorial of the Indian express  supports the government policy of the monetisation of the public asset to raise revenue for infrastructure development. Editorial also cites the case of the NHAI as the success where NHAI raise 9400 crores. Government begin this policy through the road sector so lets put some facts of the road sector first. NHAI raised 9400 crores by auction of the 681 km of the National highways through toll operate transfer (TOT) model.  This 681 km stretch was the free lane for the citizen but now citizens are bound to pay the toll. Unlike income tax, which is the progressive tax that increases with the increase of income; Toll tax is regressive. The Drivers of the Maruti and Mercedes has to pay the same amount of the toll for the highways. Citizens having lots of the resentment against toll tax based road and due to the same reasons, the one is when former Chief Minister of Gujarat; Aanandiben Patel announced to remove all toll booths for the privat...

The main problem with the prevailing public discourse in India is debate gets struck in superficial issues and no one is focusing on the fundamental issues. Numbers of the GDP and FDI is being discussed but no one asks a question that - What a common citizen get the benefit of GDP or FDI increase? The government promised tap water to each household but no one is asking that where is the water? Here I write to break one of such myth of headline-   Union budget proposed 100 lakh crore for the infrastructure . My question is from where this money comes from? 100 lakh crore for in five years means 20 lakh crore per year. Total Budget size of ours is the 30 lakh crore per year where most of the money goes to the Subsidy, Social sector and defence expenditure. Infrastructure gets hardly 2.5-3 lakh crore per year ( This year 83,016 crore to the highways and 64,587 crores for railways. ) So, maximum of 15 lakh crore for 5 years. Now, (100-15)= 85. From where Govt bring 85 lakh c...

I am basically Home Animal. I spend most of the time within four walls of the home since the last 3-4 years. But In last week, I roamed outside and Notice some important things about the Infrastructure problems of ours. Mainly related to the policy level issues. It shows that Policy level decisions are completely delinked from the Ground reality. Let me Start with the National Highways - Government brings the FASTag for the hassle-free travel on the Toll Booth. This is basically a barcode sticker which facilitates the cashless transaction on the toll booth. A car Having FASTag don’t have to stop on toll booth. They just pass from booth and Camera automatically scanned the barcode and deduct amount directly from the bank account. This is a very good initiative but it creates problems rather than solve problems. We all aware about the Long toll booth queue. Govt introduced FASTag in the existing infrastructure and don’t spend resources to expand infrastructure to facilitate th...

                                                            An Act to amend law relating to the exemption from tolls of persons and property belonging to the Army or Air Force. It's interesting case :- This act came in force in 1901 , around 45 years before of independence and on other side we ( India ) allow toll base road in 1997 through NHAI amendment act . But , in these act Government give exemption only to Defence forces not to Service men as personal . Captain (Capt.)/Major (Maj.) Navdeep Singh  ,A  most decorated officer in the history of the Indian Territorial Army fight for proper implementation of  THE INDIAN TOLLS (ARMY AND AIR FORCE) ACT, ...

A common Indian Never know about Rules and also About Rule making process, Here Is the small Example About the tactics of Indian Acts . For construction Highways we have a “National highway act .- 1956”   Than in 1988 Government feel there there is a special agency need for boosting highway development program me so it create new institution call NHAI NHAI – National Highway Authority Of India , A prime institution for Construction National highway through length and breath of country. The National Highways Authority of India was constituted by an act of Parliament , call NHAI 1985 Act. But for allowing PPP model for highway development government amended act. Act Tactics start from here .... PPP model give right to private player to take toll but some people/Institutions haave exemption from it . According to answer of Minister of State of Road Transport and Highways, Shri Jitin Prasada    in   a written reply in Lok Sabha :- It can...