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North-South Economic Corridor of Eastern India
By D N Mishra
Mar. 15, 2008 |
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Eastern
region of India is undoubtedly having the most
promising economic potential for any region of
the India. This region is not only having the
monopoly in mineral resources but also is the
biggest hub of metal industry, power generation
industry in India. In addition, this region cuts
through the very fertile Gangetic belt on which
India is pinning its hope for its future food
security. In addition, this region is home to a
potentially very attractive, yet hitherto
undiscovered, tourism potential. Only that no
concerted effort has ever been made in Post
Independence India till date to harness this
potential of Eastern Regions.
It is suggested that an economic corridor
cutting through Nepal, Bihar, Jharkhand & Orissa
be launched to give a big boost to economic
activity in this region. This economic corridor
can be built around an access controlled
expressway passing North to South up to Paradip
Port. Spurs can also be built to connect
Chhatishgarh, Eastern MP, Eastern UP (to Ganga
Express Way at Balia) and North East Regions as
well. A parallel running high Speed Rail
Corridor Targeted at Big Traffic volume in the
region need also to be part of this corridor.
This will also ensure alternative port access to
this region and will spur the growth of Paradip
Port as potentially very attractive port city.
Given the huge concentration of Mineral
Industry, Metal Industry, and Power Plants apart
from huge economic needs of eastern UP, Nepal
and Bihar this region promises huge enough
traffic to make this corridor financially viable
and very attractive to potential investors. Also
a huge tourism potential around this corridor
will ensure that this corridor turns out as one
of the busiest passenger traffic corridor.
Airports at Kathmandu, Patna, Gaya, Ranchi and
Bhubaneshwar will also feed international
travelers into this corridor. Moreover, this
route will link up with Tibetan Highway at
Kathmandu, and two main Trans Asian Highway
Corridors as well as main Trans Asian Rail
Network corridor.
Such a corridor should be planned as a joint
venture by participating stakeholders like
Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar and Nepal. This
corridor when linked up with enhanced potential
of Paradip Port is sure to attract big interest
from the private investors & multi lateral
development agencies alike. It may not require
any public investment from the participating
stakeholders at all. They would just be required
to make a common cause and ensure coordinated
action to ensure that this ambitious project
encounters no or else the least amount of
roadblocks.
This project can be executed through an SPV
using PPP mode. Central government should also
be made to fund this as a national project as
this is an interstate and international
strategic project. Alternatively, center should
put part of its fund originally meant for
infrastructure development in Naxal infested
area, BGRF and for Border Area Development in
the aforesaid SPV. This road is sure to herald
the kind of economic activity which will tame
all the economic unrest in this region.
If the leadership of this region really wants to
see their dream take shape then they must ensure
a fast and surefooted progress in mission
approach on such a project. A vision matching
that of our former Prime Minister Mr. Vajpayee
in launching of NHDP Projects and a
determination shown by Ms. Mayawati in launching
of The Ganges Express way is called for by the
leadership of these states.
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Comments: |
I fully agree with Mr. Mishra's view
of developing infrastructure to tap
economical potential of unexplored
eastern region of the country. To
attract investor’s interest, govt.
could plan for industrial township
buildings, improving the law n
order, tax relaxations, transparent
policies, liberalization in
establishment setting up
formalities, tightening the
bureaucracy etc. It’s hard to
achieve but can’t be impossible at
the same time. What we need is the
desire to work for a common goal
towards the path of development. It
requires one common objective and a
common definition for the
development and that common
objective should prevail through
public to the governance and to the
public servants. If Bihari wants
their pride back, there is no short
cut for this. - Sharique Nezami -
Mar. 16, 2008
I have been thinking about it for a
long time: A proper six lane highway
from a port in Orrisa, say Gopalpur,
to Rourkela - Jamshedpur - Ranchi -
Hazaribagh - Gaya - Patna -
Muzzafarpur - Sitamarhi - and then
on to Kathmandu. For good measure, a
branch could go to Chattisgarh, say
to Raipur from Ranchi.
This port will suddenly open up the
region to the world - south east
Asia and beyond. Readers would have
noticed, the Gujarat port and its
link to Gurgaon via Rajasthan
changed the profile of the whole
north western India, place starting
with Maruti Udyog. It is such
projects which have been lacking
which are the reasons behind the
region's backwardness. Nothing is
inherently wrong with the region, as
the press from Delhi and Mumbai do
not hesitate to say almost daily.
A related issue, which I have been
trying to get attention to, without
much success, is the lack of
connectivity of Bihar and Jharkhand
population centres (Cities and
towns) from the East West corridor
and the Delhi - Cal leg of the
golden quad. The map at
http://www.nhai.org/completedmap.htm
will show no significant population
centre of Bihar or Jharkhand except
Muzaffarpur will be connected by
these roads? Are we enemy territory
that forces and material need to be
hauled over us by the shortest
possible route? For whose benefit?
Don't these cities also need the
benefits of modern day highway? Then
why is the alignment so anti people?
Arterial roads of equivalent or
better quality which connect our
population centres like Patna,
Bhagalpur, Gaya, Hazaribagh, etc
should be constructed without any
delay to correct this blunder. I do
feel frustrated that even though I
have raised this with several senior
functionaries at Delhi, none seem to
care about it. A strike which brings
the traffic on this route to a
complete halt for 24 hours is the
only action left. - Thakur Vikas
Sinha - Mar. 17, 2008
Mr. D. N. Mishra has given some
excellent proposals. However I do
not agree with complaints of Mr.
Thakur. These highways cover only
limited areas of the country and it
should not be taken as enmity with
state. But Mr. Thakur is very right
in suggesting action by the state
government. In fact, Bihar is lucky
to have close proximity to at least
two of these highways. If the state
government builds some feeder roads
of good quality to connect
Muzaffarpur through Patna and also
through Barauni to at least two
points on Delhi -Kolkata highway, a
large population of state will
become well connected to these
highways.
Apart from this, if our Railway
Minister with overflowing coffers
can connect Muzaffarpur with Tata
and may be Rourkela and Bhilai also
with superfast trains with some AC
compartments as well in place of
existing slow running trains, it
will go a long way in connecting
high density population centers with
highly industrialized belts.
No need to say that extra bridges
may be required over the Ganges,
possibly a rail cum road bridge at
Patna. Roadside infrastructure also
need to be improved to make the
journey pleasant. Good parking areas
with hygienic eating houses and
bathrooms should be built along the
highways in a manner that does not
block the traffic on roads. -
Mithilesh Kumar, New York, USA -
Mar. 18, 2008
Wonderful ideas.
I don't think Mr. Thakur is in a
complaining spirit. He is demanding,
which is very rightful. We should
never shy away from demanding
something, which is justified and
which we need. - Manoj Kumar -
Mar. 28, 2008 |
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Discussion on this topic is now
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