Make in India: It is still the economy, stupid!

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">If 2014 was the year of politics, 2015 will have to be the year of the economy. And, if this has to happen, it is necessary that we have a correct understanding of what the mandate of 2014 was all about. The mandate of 2014 was shaped by the political discourse of 2013. That discourse was all about fighting corruption in high places and getting the </span>economy<span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> back on rails. The man who led the </span>Bharatiya Janata Party<span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> to power in the summer of 2014 seemed to understand that. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">His campaign was all about good governance and development. As we move into 2015 it seems necessary once again to remind ourselves of this fact. Many political analysts are putting forward fanciful theories about the 2014 vote — that it was a "communal vote", a "majoritarian verdict" and a mandate for Hindu upper caste assertion. This is nonsense. The mood of the electorate in 2014 was shaped by a sense of despair that had come to grip this nation. Many had begun to believe that the Great India Story had come to a premature end, before everyone could live happily ever after. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">What is the Great India Story? It went something like this. Since the beginning of recorded history till the 18th Century India and China were the world's two biggest economies. In 1700 these two Asian neighbours accounted for almost half of world income. Then came European colonialism and by 1950 their combined share of world income was not even 10%. In India's case, the argument goes, from 1900 to 1950 British India's growth rate was close to zero per cent per annum. From 1950 to 1980, free India grew at an annual average rate of growth of 3.5%. This went up to 5.5% in the post-Emergency and post-Liberalization years of 1980 to 2000 and further up to an average of over 7.5% in the new millennium. </span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">So India, like much of Asia to its East, the story went, is on a rising trajectory of economic growth and this economic rise would restore India to her "rightful place in the comity of nations" — a favourite phrase of successive prime ministers. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">From an investor's point of view the vital importance of this story was that it defined 'expectations' about India. And, "expectations", as that great 20th Century economist John Maynard Keynes, told us, influence investment decisions and thereby have a way of getting fulfilled. The expectation that India is on a rising growth curve fuelled a large part of the investment surge that we have seen in the period 2000-2010. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">In the last three years, especially after the presentation of the infamous 2012 Union budget in Parliament, these expectations began to turn negative. By 2013 there was a flight of capital out of India as even Indian business began investing abroad rather than at home. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Then, Narendra Modi stepped in and promised a return to the good times of higher economic growth and more inclusive development. The vote of 2014 was about that. The Constitution of India begins with the words "India, that is Bharat ..." India's rise would be Bharat's rise. India cannot do well without Bharat doing well. So, the idea of India and the idea of Bharat are merely two sides of the same minted coin, our Republic. If the polity can arrive at this consensus on New Year's Eve, one can set aside the divisive rhetoric of the past few weeks and move into 2015 on the purposive note that 'good governance and development' would indeed be everyone's priority. The Indian economy has to return to a growth path of 7% and above, offering new opportunities for employment. Be it fiscal policy or monetary policy, be it labour policy or environment policy, be it education and skill development or health and social welfare, the focus of all policy has to be to restore growth momentum to the economy and make that growth process socially and regionally inclusive. These are words, but policy begins with words and one must get one's words right. If development, inclusive growth and employment generation become the key objectives of all policy, then and then only can it be said that the government is respecting the mandate of 2014. I quite like the slogan of 'Make in India', and it is necessary to understand that that is the only way to 'Make India'. Bharat Mein Banao — Bharat Ko Banao! But for this slogan to become reality, much more needs to be done on the policy front. Nothing is more important than creating a social and political environment at home in which the makers of India would want to make in India. That will have to be the agenda for 2015. Baru is Honorary Senior Fellow, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Thanks to </span><span style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">timesofindia.indiatimes.com</span></span></div>

Make in India: It is still the economy, stupid!

If 2014 was the year of politics, 2015 will have to be the year of the economy. And, if this has to happen, it is necessary that we have a ...

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Purchase only made-in-India gadgets, PMO tells ministries

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">The government has issued strict guidelines to all ministries asking them to give preference to domestically manufactured electronic products, a move aimed at boosting electronics production as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's " Make in India" drive. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">A committee of secretaries has decided that all ministries and departments should identify department-specific domestically manufactured electronic products for procurement, and notify them within a fortnight, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said on Saturday. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">All government departments have been asked to adhere to a tender template already issued by the department of electronics and information technology, for procurement of electronic items.</span></span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">The department of electronics and information technology has also been asked to put in place an online monitoring system for reporting by ministries and departments and state governments on procurement of electronic products. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">"This system, to be operationalized in a fortnight, will capture the break-up of domestically manufactured electronic equipment by value," the statement said. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">The </span><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Narendra-Modi" style="background-color: white; color: #336797; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;">Narendra Modi</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> administration has vowed to boost the manufacturing sector and aims to take its share to 25% of the economy from the current 15%. It has drawn up an ambitious "Make in India" campaign urging investors to set up manufacturing bases in the country. The government is working to create the infrastructure to help investors set up greenfield manufacturing units. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Industry leaders cheered the move. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">"We are hopeful that if this is implemented in letter and spirit, it will lead to creation of an electronics manufacturing hub in India. We look forward for a formal notification from the government in this matter," said N K Goyal, chairman of Telecom Equipment Manufacturing Association of India. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Some industry expert said the decision should be followed through to ensure that it is implemented. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">"After seeing the non-implementation of preferential market access, this is a good decision by the government. It should have been taken long back. Now it needs to be supported with statutory provisions. Wishfully, it should be extended to all the purchases in India, whether government or private," said Ravi Sharma, Chairman, CMAI (Association of India Communication Multimedia and Infrastructure) </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">The government is taking steps to improve the country's ranking in the "Ease of Doing Business" index and has sought states support to give a big push to the manufacturing sector. The sector has remained sluggish weighed down by regulatory hurdles, a slowing economy, high interest rates and land acquisition issues.</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Thanks to h</span></span><span style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">industantimes.com, </span></span></div>

Purchase only made-in-India gadgets, PMO tells ministries

The government has issued strict guidelines to all ministries asking them to give preference to domestically manufactured electronic produc...

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Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) Scheme : for electronics

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) Scheme :</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The Zero duty EPCG Scheme is available to exporters of electronic products. It allows import of</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">capital goods for pre-production, production and post-production (including CKD/SKD thereof as</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">well as computer software systems) at zero% customs duty, subject to an export obligation</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">equivalent to 6 times of duty saved on capital goods imported under EPCG scheme, to be fulfilled in</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">6 years reckoned from Authorization issue-date.</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The concessional 3% duty EPCG Scheme allows import of capital goods for pre-production,</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">production and post-production (including CKD/SKD thereof as well as computer software systems)</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">at 3% customs duty, subject to an export obligation equivalent to 8 times of duty saved on capital</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">goods imported under EPCG scheme, to be fulfilled in 8 years reckoned from Authorization issuedate.</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The capital goods shall include spares (including refurbished/reconditioned spares), tools, jigs,</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">fixtures, dies and moulds. Second hand capital goods, without any restriction on age, may also be</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">imported under the EPCG Scheme. The export obligation can also be fulfilled by the supply of ITA-1</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">items to the DTA, provided the realization is in free foreign exchange.</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The details of the EPCG scheme are available in Chapter-5 of India’s Foreign Trade Policy and</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Procedures on the website of the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/(http://commerce.nic.in)."><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(http://commerce.nic.in).</span></a></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Duty Exemption and Remission Schemes</span></b></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Duty exemption schemes enable duty free import of inputs required for export production. Duty</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">exemption schemes consist of:</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">• Advance Authorisation scheme</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">• Duty Free Import Authorisation (DFIA) scheme</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A Duty Remission Scheme enables post export replenishment / remission of duty on inputs</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">used in export product. Duty Remission Schemes consist of :</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">• Duty Entitlement Passbook (DEPB) Scheme</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">• Duty Drawback (DBK) Scheme</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The details of these schemes are available in Chapter-4 of India’s Foreign Trade Policy and</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Procedures on the website of the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry</span></div> <div> <br /></div> </div>

Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) Scheme : for electronics

Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) Scheme : The Zero duty EPCG Scheme is available to exporters of electronic products. It allows i...

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Electronic System Design & Manufacturing, Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme(M-SIPS)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14.7679996490479px; padding: 5px 6px 5px 5px; text-align: justify;"> To promote large-scale manufacturing, to offset disability and to attract domestic and global investments into the Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector in India, the Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme ( M-SIPS) was notified vide Notification no. 175 dated 27th July 2012 in Part-I , Section 1 of the Gazette of India.</div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14.7679996490479px; padding: 5px 6px 5px 5px; text-align: justify;"> The scheme is available for both new projects and expansion projects. The scheme provides subsidy for investments in capital expenditure - 20% for investments in SEZs and 25% in non-SEZs. It also provides for reimbursement of CVD/Excise for capital equipment for the non-SEZ units. For high technology and high capital investment units, like fabs, reimbursement of central taxes and duties is also provided.</div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14.7679996490479px; padding: 5px 6px 5px 5px; text-align: justify;"> The incentives are available for investments made in a project within a period of 10 years from the date of approval.</div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14.7679996490479px; padding: 5px 6px 5px 5px; text-align: justify;"> The incentives are available for units all across the value chain starting from raw materials including assembly, testing, packaging and accessories and covering 29 verticals of ESDM products like</div> <table style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 5px; width: 369px;" summary="table summary Modified Special Incentive Package"><caption>Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme(M-SIPS)</caption><tbody style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px;"> <tr><td style="background-color: #f5faf5; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: normal; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;">i. Telecom equipments</td><td style="background-color: #f5faf5; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: normal; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;">vi. Consumer electronics</td><td style="background-color: #f5faf5; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: normal; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;">xi. Semiconductor chips & components</td><td style="background-color: #f5faf5; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: normal; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;">xvi. Nano-electronics</td></tr> <tr><td style="background-color: #f5faf5; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: normal; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;">ii. Mobile sets and accessories</td><td style="background-color: #f5faf5; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: normal; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;">vii. Power supply for ESDM products</td><td style="background-color: #f5faf5; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: normal; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;">xii. Fabs for ESDM products</td><td style="background-color: #f5faf5; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: normal; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;">xvii. E-waste processing</td></tr> <tr><td style="background-color: #f5faf5; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: normal; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;">iii. Opto electronics</td><td style="background-color: #f5faf5; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: normal; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;">viii. Medical electronics</td><td style="background-color: #f5faf5; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: normal; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;">xiii. LEDs/LCDs</td><td style="background-color: #f5faf5; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: normal; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;">xviii. Automotive electronics</td></tr> <tr><td style="background-color: #f5faf5; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: normal; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;">iv. IT hardware</td><td style="background-color: #f5faf5; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: normal; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;">ix. Semiconductor wafering</td><td style="background-color: #f5faf5; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: normal; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;">xiv. Avionics</td><td style="background-color: #f5faf5; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: normal; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;">xix. Electronics manufacturing services etc.</td></tr> <tr><td style="background-color: #f5faf5; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: normal; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;">v. Bio-metric/identity devices</td><td style="background-color: #f5faf5; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: normal; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;">x. Solar photovoltaics</td><td style="background-color: #f5faf5; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: normal; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;">xv. Electro-mechanical components</td><td style="background-color: #f5faf5; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: normal; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;"></td></tr> </tbody></table> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14.7679996490479px; padding: 5px 6px 5px 5px; text-align: justify;"> In furtherance to para 6.2 of M-SIPS policy, for effective functioning of the scheme, a set of guidelines have been drawn and made online on DeitY website. The guidelines for M-SIPS contains the detailed terms and conditions of the scheme along with the list of various ESDM verticals and the requirement of investment thresholds. It also contains application formats both for new and expansion projects. A time line regarding sanction of applications is also there and an applicant will know when to expect a response from the Government. The M-SIPS require applicants to applications with Financial Closure (tied up funds) for the project they propose to execute. The Financial Closure for a project, however, can be given in phases.</div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14.7679996490479px; padding: 5px 6px 5px 5px; text-align: justify;"> As per para 6.1 of M-SIPS notification, to consider the applications under the scheme and to submit it’s recommendations, an Appraisal Committee headed by Additional Secretary , DeitY have been constituted.</div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14.7679996490479px; padding: 5px 6px 5px 5px; text-align: justify;"> The non- refundable application fee which is required to be submitted along with the application form has been separately notified. It varies from Rs 10,000/- for projects costing less than 10 crores to Rs 1,00,000/- for projects costing 10,000 crores and above.</div> <div style="background-color: white; padding: 5px 6px 5px 5px; text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14.7679996490479px; text-align: left;"> <span style="line-height: 14.7679996490479px;">M-SIPS scheme is presently open to receive applications. All Initial applications which will be received by DeitY on or before 26-07-2015 will be considered for incentives under M-SIPS. The Nodal Officer is the key contact for all communications relating to M-SIPS. Nodal Officer(M-SIPS) has been appointed. All applications under M-SIPS are required to be submitted to Nodal Officer(M-SIPS), Department of Electronics and IT, Electronics Niketan, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003. Application can also be submitted online at</span><span style="line-height: 14.7679996490479px;"> </span><a href="http://www.msips.in/" style="color: #551a8b; line-height: 14.7679996490479px; outline: none;">www.msips.in</a></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14.7679996490479px;">For more details please see </span><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14.7679996490479px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://deity.gov.in/</span></span></div> </div>

Electronic System Design & Manufacturing, Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme(M-SIPS)

To promote large-scale manufacturing, to offset disability and to attract domestic and global investments into the Electronic System Desig...

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Loan

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h2 style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;">Loans<o:p></o:p></span></h2> <h2 style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></h2> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;"> 21st century consumers in <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region> have seen Banks and <b>Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs)</b> in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place> offer a wide range of loans.  Never before has access to loans been as easy. Several recent developments in banking infrastructure (coming of age of the credit bureaus and increasing ease of cheque settlements across locations) are aiding the ease of availability of loans. If we classify loans based on the purpose for which money is being raised, there are at least the following:<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 11.25pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">                          </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">Housing Loans</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">(also known as<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Home Loans) to fund the purchase and/or construction and/or repairs and renovation of a house along with the land surrounding it or even the purchase of a flat in a residential apartment.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 11.25pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">                          </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">Commercial Property Loans</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">to fund the purchase of immovable property for commercial purposes.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 11.25pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">                          </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">Car Loans</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">(also known as Auto Loans) to fund the purchase of a new or a used car.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 11.25pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">                          </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">Education Loans</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">to fund further studies.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 11.25pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">                          </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">Multipurpose Loans</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">where the loan amount can be used for any purpose. Most typically, loan amounts greater than Rs 10 lakes are either used for funding a business (popularly called Business Loans) or for funding higher studies of children. Multipurpose loans for amounts less than Rs 5 lakes are often used for funding wedding expenses (own or sibling) or for funding an overseas holiday. More importantly multipurpose loans may be further classified based on the collateral offered.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <ol start="1" type="1"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">Personal Loans</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">: These are completely unsecured loans (meaning no collateral has to be provided by the borrower). These attract high rates of interest which banks are known to negotiate for customers matching their target profiles.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">Loan Against Property</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">: The collateral pledged here is an immovable property (either residential or even commercial). These are cheaper than unsecured loans since the bank perceives a lower risk, but they are costlier than Home Loans as the purpose of using money is an unknown<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">Loan Against Security</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">: The collateral pledged here is a financial asset such as stocks/ bonds/ fixed deposit<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">Loan Against Gold<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">(also known as Gold Loans): The collateral pledged here is gold jeweler.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ol> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">Mrbrain advises consumers to borrow responsibly. It is important that we remember that a loan taken is the same as giving the bank a share of our future income. <o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">Borrowers who experience a difficulty getting a loan because of age, income or credit score can still avail of Gold Loans and Loan against Security.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">On the other hand, in case of a personal loan, the bank is placing its entire bet on the future income of the borrower so these loans are obviously not available to applicants whose age or income profiles don't conclusively prove the potential to repay.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">How does Mrbrain help loan-seekers?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">Simply put, the Mrbrain platform helps consumers looking for loans in the following five ways:<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">1.<b> Generating Choice</b><o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">The first thing about rates and charges is that they can always be negotiated. And a skillful negotiator can also negotiate the terms once he senses that the bank is desperate for his business. But the key to getting a great deal is to be in the driver's seat. For that, you need to have a choice of banks who are queuing up to offer you a loan.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">With ever expanding network of over 1,200 banks and distributors spread across the country, we believe that whatever be your profile you will certainly not get more choice if you apply on any single other platform. In fact, it is our mission that if your loan can be done on the terms desired by you in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> it should be possible to be done through the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/mrbrain.in">mrbrain network</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">If you directly want to apply and do not have the time to do a comprehensive research at this point of time, you might find these pages useful:<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/mrbrain.in">Apply for a Home Loan<o:p></o:p></a></span></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/mrbrain.in">Apply for a Personal Loan<o:p></o:p></a></span></span></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/mrbrain.in">Apply for a Loan against Property</a></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;"> 2.<b> Calculators to aid decision making</b><o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">Much before we choose to apply, we want to know some basics. For instance, what is the maximum loan amount am I eligible for? Or what EMI will I have to pay and for how long? Or if I have an existing loan, should I pre-pay it or even transfer the balance? We believe that our easy to use calculators help answer these and other equally relevant pre-purchase questions. <o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">3.<b> Rate Charts to make initial comparisons</b><o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">Another pre-purchase question that we seek to answer is what are the typical rates in the industry today? Or which bank will offer you what rate and levy what charges? While it is extremely important to note that all rates and charges that are published by banks (even on their own websites) can be negotiated to a certain extent. But most of us want to get a broad idea of current rates and charges even before applying. Which is why, weve built a host of comparison tables for any given profile that you may use as ready reckoners. <o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">4.<b> Product Guides</b><o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">Our Product Guides explain the typical loan application process, the eligibility criteria, the documents required, the typical associated costs (in addition to the interest charged), tax implications (if any) and negotiating tips so that you can get a better deal than most others.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">5.<b> Expert Advice</b><o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">In case you still have a question that has been left unanswered, you have the option to post it for free on the any social page. While we cannot promise that we will be able to answer all questions posted here, we will certainly make our best effort.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">At this time we are considering the possibility of expanding our expert team so that we can offer advisory services for a fee where we will be able to guarantee a response within two business days.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">Should you be interested in such services, please send your request to helpdesk@mrbrain.in.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <o:p>Source : Internet</o:p></div> </div>

Loan

Loans    21st century consumers in India have seen Banks and Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) in India offer a wide range of l...

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E-tolling on Delhi-Mumbai highway starts on Friday

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;"> From this Friday, one can travel on the Delhi-Mumbai highwaywithout stopping at any toll plaza, with the government launching <a href="http://mrbrain.in/">electronic toll collection (ETC).</a><br /><br />When vehicles pass through any of the 18 toll plazas on the Delhi-Mumbai highway, an antenna on the plazas will detect the <a class="storyTags" href="http://mrbrain.in/" style="border: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">RFID </a>(radio frequency identification) tags installed on the vehicles. The data will then be sent to a server and, subsequently, the toll will be automatically deducted from the vehicle/tag owner's bank account.<br /><br />Currently, vehicles passing through toll plazas have to stop and pay a fee, which often leads to traffic congestion. Though some operators offer the facility of tag lanes, such tags can only be used at designated points. Also, these can only be bought at toll plazas.<br /><br />Now, a dedicated lane, under the brand name FASTag, will be available at every toll plaza. The dedicated <a class="storyTags" href="http://mrbrain.in/" style="border: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">ETC </a>lanes will also have distinct colour coding. The government plans to make the service available at all 350 toll plazas across national highways by the end of this year.<br /><br />The aim is to streamline toll collection on national highways, address malpractices in the process and avoid traffic jams resulting from toll collection, say officials in the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. Besides, it is expected issues of overcharging and undercharging, as well as complaints against under-reporting/non-reporting of toll collection, will also be addressed.<br /><br />Every year, an estimated Rs 6,000 crore is collected from toll plazas on national highways.<br /><br />A new website, www.nhtis.org, will offer all toll-related information, including the number of toll plazas between specific routes, toll fees and toll notifications on the basis of which fees are charged. One will be able to calculate the toll she/he has to pay while travelling on national highways by various modes - car, van, taxi, bus, truck, etc.<br /><br />To manage the process of ETC, the government has set up Indian Highways Management Company Ltd (IHMCL), with equity participation from the National Highways Authority of India (25 per cent), concessionaires (50 per cent) and financial institutions (25 per cent). IHMCL has tied up with Axis Bank and ICICI Bank for clearing house services and offering RFID tags to users through franchises/agents and at points of sales near toll plazas.<br /><br />The ministry has also made necessary amendments in the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, for installation RFID tags on vehicles.<br /><br />The project was conceptualised by the United Progressive Alliance government, which had constituted a committee on using ETC technology on national highways under the chairmanship of Nandan Nilekani, former chairman, Unique Identification Authority of India.<br /><br />The committee had examined the technologies available for ETC and recommended the most suitable one. Keeping in mind user convenience, the rate of acceptance and ease of implementation, passive RFID (based on EPC, Gen2, ISO 18000-6C Standards for ETC technology) was adopted, said ministry officials.<br /><br />So far, ETC technology has been installed at 55 toll plazas. And, their integration with Central Clearing House operators on the Delhi-Mumbai route via Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra, has almost been completed.<br /><br />A pilot project for an interoperable ETC system on 10 toll plazas between Mumbai (Charoti) and Ahmedabad has also been tested and seamless ETC on this section is underway.<br /></div> <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="background-color: white; border-spacing: 0px; color: black; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; width: 617px;"><tbody> <tr><td bgcolor="#54717E"><span style="border: 0px; color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong>ONE FOR THE ROAD</strong></span></span></td></tr> <tr><td bgcolor="#E4EAED"><ul style="border: 0px; list-style: none inside; margin: 5px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"> <li style="border: 0px; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">RFID tags installed on vehicles will be detected when a vehicle passes through a toll plaza and the data will be sent to a local server. The toll fee will be deducted through a card owner's bank account<br /> </li> <li style="border: 0px; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Delhi-Mumbai highway has 18 plazas, with a toll fee of Rs 1,236 for a car/jeep/van (through the shortest route). Dedicated ETC lanes will be branded as FASTag lanes<br /> </li> <li style="border: 0px; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ICICI Bank and Axis Bank are involved in clearing house services for collecting and disbursing toll. More banks are expected to join<br /> </li> <li style="border: 0px; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">All 350 toll plazas across country to have one dedicated ETC lane by the year-end. Currently, ETC has been installed at 55 toll plazas<br /> </li> <li style="border: 0px; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">A pilot project on interoperable ETC system of 10 toll plazas between Mumbai & Ahmedabad has already been completed</li> </ul> </td></tr> </tbody></table> </div>

E-tolling on Delhi-Mumbai highway starts on Friday

From this Friday, one can travel on the Delhi-Mumbai highwaywithout stopping at any toll plaza, with the government launching  electronic ...

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IVRCL Infra bullish on BOT road projects

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> IVRCL Infrastructure and Projects Ltd said it has received a Rs 1,550 crore BOT (Built Operate Transfer) road project in Madhya Pradesh from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The concession will be for 25 years and the project will be completed in 30 months.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> “The 155-km long road project will be executed by a special purpose vehicle owned by IVR Prime. The road construction will be taken up by IVRCL Infra,” said Mr E. Sudhir Reddy, the chairman of IVRCL Group.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> “With this, IVR Prime has BOT projects — confirmed and lowest bidder — worth Rs 10,000 crore,” he said adding that the company expects to win six BOT projects by this year end.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> The project, which is a part of National Highway 59, involves design, engineering, construction, development, finance, operation and maintenance of the road that runs between Indore and Ahmedabad.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> Mr Reddy said that the debt-equity of 5:1 would be used to fund the project. “The equity component will be raised through internal accruals and raising debt will not be difficult for us,” Mr Reddy said.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> Following the road transport and highways minister, Mr Kamal Nath’s target to build 20 km road every day by April 2010, the NHAI has put the process of awarding contracts on the fast track. “We are currently doing 9 km a day and would be in a position to scale up to 20 km a day by April-May 2010,” Mr Nath had said recently.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> Recently, the government had approved road projects worth Rs 6,152 crore in five states for upgrading nearly 562 km of four-lane highways into six lanes.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> Mr Nath had also coined the idea of issuing infrastructure bonds to raise money from non-resident Indians on the lines of the Resurgent India Bonds issued in 1998 and the India Millennium Bonds issued in 2000.</div> </div>

IVRCL Infra bullish on BOT road projects

IVRCL Infrastructure and Projects Ltd said it has received a Rs 1,550 crore BOT (Built Operate Transfer) road project in Madhya Pradesh fr...

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ISO specification for ETC systems

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> A newly published ISO Technical Specification harmonises the requirements for electronic fee collection (EFC) systems on roads subject to toll charges. It will facilitate mobility between different road networks and help to ensure reliable data collection and correct charging.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> ISO/TS 12813:2009, “Electronic fee collection – Compliance check communication for autonomous systems”, will help to ensure the optimal use of on-board equipment (OBE) interfacing with satellite positioning to collect the data required for charging for the use of roads in an autonomous mode, without relying on dedicated road-side infrastructure.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> The standard defines the requirements for using dedicated short range communication (DSRC) between on-board equipment and an interrogator for the purpose of checking compliance of road use with a local toll regime. This will enable checking of non-national vehicles and thus enable cross border enforcement of non-compliant vehicles.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> The scope of the Electronic Fee Collection (EFC) standards relates to EFC charging systems and information exchanges over the interfaces. The standards focus on the interface between the on-board and the roadside equipment, but also deal with the ‘Information data flows between operators’. The standards primarily cover EFC systems based on Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC); Cellular Network / Global Navigation Satellite Systems (CN/GNSS), and Integrated Circuit Card (ICC) technologies.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> The standards suite includes not only ‘requirements’ but also associated test procedures, in order to support conformity evaluation of EFC on-board and roadside equipment. It also includes security guidelines that can be useful in the preparation or evaluation of security requirements.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> ISO/TS 12813:2009, Electronic fee collection – Compliance check communication for autonomous systems, was jointly developed by ISO technical committee ISO/TC 204, Intelligent Transport systems and CEN/TC 278, Road transport and traffic telematics.</div> </div>

ISO specification for ETC systems

A newly published ISO Technical Specification harmonises the requirements for electronic fee collection (EFC) systems on roads subject to ...

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Toll Industry has had a few years of maturity. What is the summary of exceptions from Toll Collection System from a concessionaire’s point of view.

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(<em>This needs an in-depth analysis on broad parameters. However I have tried to analyze few problems associated with toll roads.</em>)</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: right;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Introduction:</strong> with a need a build good infrastructure and lack funds available to finance these Highway project government has undertaken to built highway on Public Private Partnership either toll based or annuity based.<br />The private developers who bids and undertake constructions of Highway on toll basis needs to implement a through pertinent “risk” management system with the help of the government to mitigate all the risks that come with development.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To understand the various consequence of “tolled” roads there needs to through study to undertaken which is not my purview at the moment. Hence I dwell over some of these consequences based my exposer these projects.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Toll based Highways:</strong><br />The idea of “Toll based” highways was imported into India from experiences of others countries like Europe, Malaysia or North America. The model “Concession Agreement” was drafted by the Government to suit India needs.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The toll categories of roads are those wherein there are sufficient traffic which can be tolled by the Concessionaire and recoup the investment made him and also make profit. In the event there are not enough tollable traffic to recoup the investment made, it will be offered on annuity basis or with VGP (Viability gap funding) by the government.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The tolled based roads wherein the Government grants private developer specific rights to design, finance, construct operate and maintain the roads. The developer called “Concessionaire” develops covers the investment costs and carry commercial risks since he relays on operation revenue from the tolls remunerated. At the end of the concessional period the road reverted back to government at no extra charges. However if the estimated revenue does not materialize during Concession period the Concessionaire may have to negotiate the concession period (as in other countries) which is yet to happen in India as we are just starting!</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In south America there is method of bidding known as “Least Present Value” wherein the winning bidder is the one who asks for “smallest Net Present Value” and period of the concession period ends when the present value of revenue equal to winning bid. This model has not been tried in India.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Risk management in “Toll based” Concession</span></strong></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the present circumstances the Concessionaire undertakes risks to constructs road which is generally divides normally into three parts:</span></div> <ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <li style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Certainty – decision maker know exactly the outcome</span></li> <li style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Uncertainty – here the decision maker does not know the risks due to non availability of any data</span></li> <li style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Risks – are those which can be determined by statistical terms and can be analyzed but it differs from uncertainty</span></li> </ol> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In risk management all the risks are quantified and analyzed and decision taken by the Concessionaire to mitigate the same by way of disciplined approach to critical situation</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Developmental risk involves “Land Acquisitions” needed for the project. This is one of the biggest risk faced by the Indian developers as most of the times project gets delayed due non-availability of Land. NHAI does not meet the contractual requirements specified in the Concession agreement thereby causing unnecessary hardship to concessionaire. This risk falls under “uncertainty” which can not be quantified</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Financial Risk: Soon after award of Project, the Concessionaire needs to raise the necessary capital required for execution project</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are two major risks involved:</span></div> <ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <li style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ability to raise the finance and make financial close as required by the Concession agreement.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">High interest rate during the currency of concession period (due to floating interest charged by lenders) – mitigation of this risk in extremely important).</span></li> </ol> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Construction risks</span></strong></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whether the construction undertaken by the Concessionaire himself or by other contractor there are many risk involved</span></div> <ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <li style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Poor performance of the contractor</span></li> <li style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Different site condition which normally experience contractor many not have thought off which is problematic and end up in high cost due additional items of work to be executed.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">High price escalation of all the inputs of construction – Example: steel pricing going through roof last year.</span></li> </ol> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All above risk has to be born by the Concessionaire which needs proper approach in the initial stages itself<br /><strong><br />Operational risks</strong><br />Operation risk involves mainly the following</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">State support agreement – needs to signed by the concerned state and they shall support the collection of tolls which important to the concessionaire. NHAI who are promoters of the project should take full responsibility in getting the agreement signed with Concessionaire as Concessionaire can not exert any pressure on the states</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Toll Level: the estimated toll level uncertainty during pre-bidding stages can lead to inaccuracies in revenue estimation which the Concessionaire has based his bid. Hence this risk needs to shared by the NHAI</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The traffic volume projected in financial model may not materialize as it completely depends on economic growth projected during pre-bidding stage</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Any fall in traffic volume will automatically bring down the IRR value projected. Expert estimate that 10% drop in volume of traffic will result in reduction of 1-7% – 1.9% percent reduction in IRR.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Toll collection</strong><br />The Concession agreement does give any standard specification for the installation of tolling equipment. This has resulted in haphazard manner the tolling equipment being installed by the different Concessionaire. This needs to change. For example a RFID card issued at New Delhi should also hold good down south. By such an arrangement the road user can travel effortlessly any ware in India.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The technology used by the Concessionaire needs to be streamlined on all India basis for all Concessionaire.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Toll fee: The price escalation of “toll/Fee” charged by the Concessionaire is based on all India WPI index. This is incorrect as in some states it may be very high. In my opinion there should be “Toll Regulator” on all India basis to regulate toll based on each state WPI or any other base model</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">HTMS: Here there is no comprehensive approach. For example the “variable message system” is limited to one project length only! This also needs an all India approach.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Suggestion: at the moment there are so many “Toll” based road are in operation and also on the horizon. All the toll based roads owners are “Special purposed vehicle” promoted by the concessionaire.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So why not a “over the counter” stock listing be arranged of these SPV and listed in Stock exchanges which can also traded in F&O section. I am sure this arrangement will automatically will mitigate many risks and also give scope for improvement in roads as the Concessionaire would like increase the traffic by enhancing the many amenities for road users.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Thanks for taking time for reading this articles.</b></span></div> </div>

Toll Industry has had a few years of maturity. What is the summary of exceptions from Toll Collection System from a concessionaire’s point of view.

( This needs an in-depth analysis on broad parameters. However I have tried to analyze few problems associated with toll roads. ) Intr...

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L&T arm signs Rs 26bn concession agreement with NHAI

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2d393b; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Georgia; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Larsen & Toubro Ltd.</span><span style="border: 0px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> said on Wednesday that its subsidiary L&T Infrastructure Development Projects Ltd. (L&TIDPL) has signed a Concession Agreement worth Rs 26bn with the NHAI.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px none; color: #454545; display: inline; font-family: Roboto, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The agreement with <b><u><a href="http://mrbrain.in/">NHAI is for the four-laning of a 244-km stretch on the NH 14</a></u></b> between Beawar and Pindwara in Rajasthan.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The project will be undertaken on BOT DBFO (design, built, finance and operate) basis, with a concession period of 23 years.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The estimated project cost is <b>Rs 26bn</b>, and the project is scheduled to be completed within a period of 30 months.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2d393b; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Georgia; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Concessionaire (L&T BPP Tollway Pvt. Ltd - a SPV of L&TIDPL) is entitled to collect toll from the users of the highway during the concession period on completion of the four-laning of the road.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2d393b; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Georgia; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The project corridor is one of the main evacuation routes for traffic from Kandla and Mundra ports, destined to hinterlands spread out in Northern India, extending to Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Punjab and beyond. </span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2d393b; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Georgia; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2d393b; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Georgia; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The project corridor falls within the proposed Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) and the four-laning of the 244 km stretch of NH-14 within this industrial corridor is expected to accelerate the development and growth prospects in this region.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2d393b; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Georgia; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2d393b; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Georgia; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">With this project, L&T currently has 16 projects in its BOT Roads Portfolio. Out of this, 7 are presently in operation phase, 8 in construction phase.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2d393b; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Georgia; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2d393b; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Georgia; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">This project is entering the development phase, thus translating into a length of 6700 lane km and a total length of 1461 km, and a total project book size of Rs 158bn. </span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2d393b; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Georgia; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></div> <br /><span style="color: #454545; font-family: Roboto, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; text-align: justify;"></span></div>

L&T arm signs Rs 26bn concession agreement with NHAI

Larsen & Toubro Ltd.  said on Wednesday that its subsidiary L&T Infrastructure Development Projects Ltd. (L&TIDPL) has signed ...

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NHAI plans Rs 5,000 crore tax-free bonds

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"> <figure><figcaption style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>National Highways Authority of India plans to launch a tax-free bonds issue to mop up about Rs 5,000 crore by December, an official said.</em></strong></figcaption><figcaption style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><br /></em></strong></figcaption><figcaption><strong><em><br /></em></strong></figcaption></figure><figure></figure></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> KOLKATA: National Highways Authority of India plans to launch a tax-free bonds issue to mop up about Rs 5,000 crore by December, an official said. “The process has already begun. We will soon mandate a merchant banker for the same,” Satish Chandra, member (finance) at the state-owned autonomous agency, told ET.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"> <div> <div style="color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">  The highways authority, or NHAI, which is responsible for all the national highways in the country, has already notified top merchant bankers and roped in rating agencies Crisil BSE -1.14 %, Care and Brickwork Ratings India for the proposed issue. Delhi-based M V Kini & Co will be its legal advisor.The proposed issue will be subject to statutory approvals.An NHAI official said the money raised will be used for future investment needs as the agency currently has some Rs 4,000 crore of cash in its books. “We do not need funds immediately for two reasons: we still have some cash in hand and execution work on several projects — some 11-12 of them — is yet to take off due to economic slowdown,” the official said.</div> <div style="color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> A person familiar with the development, however, said the highways ministry is not yet convinced about the proposed issue and has sought an explanation from NHAI. Last year, the agency had failed to issue Rs 10,000 crore of bonds, though the same was sanctioned.</div> <div style="color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> Incidentally, ongoing tax-free bonds of state owned entities India Infrastructure Finance Company and Power Finance Company are yet to catch retail fancy. Both the issues are yet to achieve the retail subscription target of 40% of the overall issue size. The issues are offering a few basis points lower rate of interest in select maturities compared with the earlier ones.</div> <div style="color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> Also, with a gush of issues, including those of Rural Electrification Corporation BSE -0.68 %and National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, having already hit the market, investor appetite appears to have waned.</div> <div style="color: #494849; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> A market analyst said that only higher rate of interest can now get retail investors back into tax-saving bonds this fiscal year.</div> </div> <div> </div> <div> Source-<a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/" style="color: #2255aa; text-decoration: none;">http://economictimes.indiatimes.com</a></div> </div> </div>

NHAI plans Rs 5,000 crore tax-free bonds

National Highways Authority of India plans to launch a tax-free bonds issue to mop up about Rs 5,000 crore by December, an official said. ...

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Now, get toll plaza info on smartphone

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> New Delhi: Now road users can check whether a toll plaza is operating legally and how much they should pay at each toll plaza. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has launched a portal a mobile-based application that will help commuters locate all toll plazas on a stretch and charges payable for each category of vehicle – car, jeep, truck or bus.<br />Suppose one plans to travel between Delhi and Mumbai, he just needs to enter names of the origin and destination to get details of all toll plazas.<br />A government official said the website – <b>www.nhaitis.org </b>– is already functional and information related to 255 toll plazas has been uploaded in the system. Details of other 30 plazas will be uploaded in the next two weeks, sources said.<br />“Commuters can also access updated information about concessions available for local and frequent users on any toll plaza so that the toll operators can’t fleece them. They can get details of the facilities available near a toll plaza, contact numbers for emergency services, local police station and nearest hospital,” said an official.<br />To make the information accessible while on the move, the highway authority said that people can also get all these details simply by sending an SMS. All that they need is to download an application (app) on their android smartphones. The app will provide details of all toll plazas within 100 km range.<br /><b>Overcharging, misbehaviour by toll operators</b> and long wait at toll plazas are some of the major irritants for road-users. Moreover, though it’s mandatory that a big hoarding at every plaza must display the applicable toll charges for each type of vehicle, private developers often fail to put them up. The new IT initiative is likely to address these concerns.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">  Source-<a href="http://epaper.timesofindia.com/" style="color: #2255aa; text-decoration: none;">http://epaper.timesofindia.com/</a></div> </div>

Now, get toll plaza info on smartphone

New Delhi: Now road users can check whether a toll plaza is operating legally and how much they should pay at each toll plaza. National Hi...

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TRAFFIC CONGESTION : A Road-User Perspective

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> These days, everyone is talking about creation of Smart Cities. So what has this got to do with traffic congestion on roads? A “Smart City” promises its citizens a very high quality of life by planned usage of resources – physical infrastructure included – to create an eco-system of sustainable economic development, living, governance, mobility, environment, and so on. Towards this objective, a Smart City is expected to deploy automated controls to achieve this. Smart transportation is a key enabler for enhanced mobility in Smart Cities.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> How often have you got stuck in traffic while travelling to catch a flight, train, to get emergency medical assistance or to attend to that urgent meeting or for an interview? Something that each one of us in cities experience frequently, and are not too pleased doing so!</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> The feelings of the hapless traveler in such situations would most likely be something like:<br /> Ugh ! Why so many vehicles on the road ? Can’t this be controlled?<br /> Why can’t we have wider and/or enough alternative roads for smooth travel?<br /> These slow moving vehicles should keep off the main roads<br /> Could the police not tame these reckless drivers ?<br /> Parking on the roads is a curse !<br /> Shops and other encroachments on roads are eating away the road space and so on<br />Such situations do reflect the utter chaos faced during busy traffic hours, and scream for something to be urgently done to mitigate the road users’ travails. For only then would the dreams of achieving a “Smart City” status for our cities be realized.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> From a road user perspective, managing such situation requires either reduction of vehicular traffic volumes or freeing up available space on the road. One would readily conclude that this approach would lead us to the much-needed salvation from the demon called “congestion”.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> A closer view of this perception, while endorsing it prima facie, calls for a deep introspection and brings a none-too-easy “to do” tasks. A sample wish list would include, but not be limited to:<br /> Restrict the number of new vehicles that hit the city roads daily<br /> Enforce parking space availability for people buying cars<br /> Strictly handle the menace of haphazard parking on roads<br /> Create more parking space – even using multi-storeyed and/or underground structures<br /> Make public transport available, safe, frequent, affordable<br /> Discourage use of personal vehicles by levying hefty taxes<br /> Plan business and work areas (office/factory/etc.) to minimize travel<br /> Encourage car-pooling (incentives, tax exemptions, concessional parking charges, etc.)</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> The Author-Mr Sudipto chakarvaty</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> Source : internet.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <br /></div> </div>

TRAFFIC CONGESTION : A Road-User Perspective

These days, everyone is talking about creation of Smart Cities. So what has this got to do with traffic congestion on roads? A “Smart City...

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Govt’s plan of limiting toll collection faces resistance

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> Currently, the toll rates are typically brought down to 40% of the ongoing toll rate after the end of a concession period. Photo: Mint New Delhi: Roads minister Nitin Gadkari’s promise of limiting toll collection to recover project cost is facing resistance on grounds that it will add to the fiscal burden of the government. Officials in the road ministry and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) have pitched to make a presentation to the minister to explain why the proposal is not feasible. “We have asked the minister to let us explain why stopping toll collection after recovering the project cost may not be desirable,” said an official who did not want to be identified. “Money collected through toll after the end of the concession period is used to maintain national highway projects.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> Usually these are good stretches and cost of maintenance is high and there aren’t enough funds with the government to ensure maintenance of these stretches without the toll money,” he added. Currently, the toll rates are typically brought down to 40% of the ongoing toll rate after the end of a concession period. Concession period is the duration for which a developer is given the contract for tolling a road project for recovering the cost of construction and maintaining it, and typically ranges between 20 and 30 years. “The tolling policy is very vague. It needs to be revisited for many reasons like defining what constitutes the cost of construction and why some stretches are tolled and some not,” said a second official, who too requested anonymity.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> “However, the toll that is collected after the concession period is used for maintaining and cross-subsiding other national highway stretches that cannot be tolled. If this is removed where will the money for maintaining the national highway network come from?” Gadkari first spoke of stopping the collection of toll once the cost of a project is recovered in the Lok Sabha on 14 August. Addressing a conference on 100 days of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government on 15 September, Gadkari reiterated his keenness to go ahead with the proposal. The remarks come in the backdrop of several instances of protests against toll collection.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> Road ministry officials are exploring alternative, acceptable solutions for resource mobilization that could at least address the resentment of the local residents. “One of the suggestions is to toll only the commercial traffic after the cost of the project is recovered as anyway 80% of the toll collection comes from the commercial traffic. However, all this is at an initial stage,” the first official said. The National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules formulated in 2008 are in force currently.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> “The tolling strategy needs to be relooked at, keeping in mind the issue of the local users. More importantly the issue of collecting toll until perpetuity for stretches without providing an alternative free route to users who may not wish to pay also needs to be addressed,” said Pranavant, senior director at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India Pvt. Ltd, an audit and consulting firm. He uses a single name. The move, when first suggested, had been criticized by the industry too on grounds that it could make it difficult for the developers to access bank finance.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> Source:live mint, indiantollways.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #494849; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px !important; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> <br /></div> </div>

Govt’s plan of limiting toll collection faces resistance

Currently, the toll rates are typically brought down to 40% of the ongoing toll rate after the end of a concession period. Photo: Mint New...

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12 Computer (PC) Tricks You Should Try Right Now

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">Computers have simplified our life to a great extent. Things that were impossible earlier can now be completed instantly thanks to computers. However, this does not mean that a PC is all work and no play.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /> <br /> <span style="background: white;">Here are some of the best tricks you can try out on your Windows based computer.</span><br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-left: 18.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">                  </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">Have fun with Notepad</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /> If you think that Notepad is just a basic text editor, then, you will be amazed<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>by its capabilities. You can use Notepad to create everything from personalized logs to harmless viruses that are incredibly annoying.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Go see this post to know just how<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>useful Notepad is.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-left: 18.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">                  </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">Command Prompt too has some tricks up its sleeves</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /> If you think that the Command prompt is a boring old program that no one uses, you are making a huge mistake. It can be used for everything from watching ASCII Star Wars to making folders that you cannot delete. See this post to know about<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>all the cool stuff you can do with the Windows Command Prompt.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-left: 18.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">                  </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">Use Keyboard Shortcuts to get work done in no time</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /> If you are tired of having to alternate between your mouse and keyboard to operate your Windows computer, you would love to know these really useful keyboard shortcuts which greatly increase your speed and efficiency.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>See this post for details.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-left: 18.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">                  </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">Make your computer speak what you type</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /> You can use your PC's built in features and some VBScript magic to create a simple program that will make your computer speak whatever you input to it. Enter the right words and you could imitate a real conversation.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Head over to this post to talk with your PC.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-left: 18.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">                  </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">Make your computer greet you every time you start Windows</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /> A simple modification in the previous trick will make your computer welcome you in its own mechanical voice every time you log onto Windows. This is achieved by placing the VBS script responsible for making your computer talk in the Start up folder.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Read this post<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to have a computer said welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-left: 18.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">6.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">                  </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">Find your computer's gender</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /> Want to know if your PC is a male or a female? Simple. Try the previous trick to know if your computer is a 'he' or a 'she'. On a serious note, this depends upon the voice you have selected in Microsoft Text to Speech options.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-left: 18.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">7.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">                  </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">Lock Folders with password</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /> If you have important personal files that you do not want other people to see, you can hide them in a password protected folder to prevent unwanted users from seeing them.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Go see this post to hide your personal files<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>effectively.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-left: 18.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">8.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">                  </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">Change your Processor's name</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-left: 18.75pt;"> <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">If you are bored of your old processor and want a new one with a staggering name, you will definitely want to see this trick which allows you to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>change its name to something extraordinary<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to make your PC special.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-left: 18.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">9.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">                  </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">Make a Keyboard Disco</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /> You can use some VBScript coding to create a live disco on your keyboard by making the LED lights flash alternately.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>See this post to know how<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>your keyboard can turn into a disco.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-left: 18.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">10.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">              </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">Recover permanently deleted files in Windows</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /> If you have ever deleted a file in Windows that you did not want to and now want to recover it, you would definitely want to know about<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>some free tools to recover your deleted files<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>easily.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-left: 18.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">11.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">              </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">Use your Keyboard as Mouse.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /> You know you can use your mouse as keyboard using the On-screen keyboard utility. What if I tell you that it is also possible to do the reverse?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Just read this post to see how.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-left: 18.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">12.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">              </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">Disable USB ports to prevent others from taking your data</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /> Ever wanted to disable your USB ports to prevent others from using their flash drives on your PC? This post explains how to do just that<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>with a simple registry trick. Do note that disabling USB ports will also disable your USB connected peripheral devices.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> </div>

12 Computer (PC) Tricks You Should Try Right Now

Computers have simplified our life to a great extent. Things that were impossible earlier can now be completed instantly thanks to compute...

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