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An impetus towards the electrification of mobility is crucial for India. However, the adoption rates of electric two-wheelers remain low, and hence, for fruitful penetration of electric two-wheelers in India, this study analyses the factors affecting the adoption behaviour of electric two-wheelers using discrete choice models. This study uses data collected from 1375 potential electric two-wheeler buyers of Bengaluru, India, to study the influence of various vehicle attributes such as purchase price, operating cost, charging time, driving range, charging infrastructure and exhaust emissions on the intention to adopt electric two-wheelers. In addition, the impact of important policies such as free and reserved parking, access to priority lanes and toll tax exemption for electric two-wheeler owners is also analysed and discussed in this study. Apart from the vehicle attributes, this study also studies the effect of socio-demographic variables, travel variables and certain attitudinal latent variables such as environmental enthusiasm, technological enthusiasm, and perceived social image on the electric two-wheeler adoption behaviour. The results reveal purchase price, operating cost and charging time to have a significant negative impact and driving range and density of the charging infrastructure network to have a significant positive impact on the intention to adopt electric two-wheelers. • Explores the influence of vehicle attributes, policies and travel attitudinal variables on electric two-wheeler adoption intention. • Purchase price and charging time are major hindrances to widespread adoption of electric two-wheelers. • Improvement in driving range and charging infrastructure will aid in the adoption of electric two-wheelers. • Policy initiatives and incentives for electric vehicles can further induce acceptance of electric two-wheelers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores the complex interplay between economic development and environmental sustainability in the context of India's pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It examines the inherent contradictions and trade-offs involved, particularly in agriculture, industrialisation, and infrastructure sectors. The paper highlights how economic growth, essential for improving living standards, often conflicts with environmental objectives. The paper underscores the importance of integrating economic, environmental, and social objectives to achieve a sustainable and inclusive future for India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In India, the alarming rise in Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) is a pressing concern that poses significant threats to public safety and infrastructure. Aims and Objectives: The study was conducted to know the clinico-radiological aspect and associated mortality and morbidity of cases of RTAs caused due to stray animals in central India. Materials and Methods: This current study was a prospective observational study done in the premier institute of central India from April 2023 to July 2023. All RTA patients due to impact with stray animals attending the trauma and neurosurgery department of our institute for 3 months (April 23, 2023-July 30, 2023) were included in the study. Results: A total of 50 patients were recruited for the study. The median age of the patients was 29.00 years (20.00-41.00) (Range). The gender distribution M: F was 38:12. Five (10%) patients reached the T and E within the golden hour (first 1 h). Evening time (42%) was the most common time of accidents (12 PM-6 PM), followed by (6 PM-AM). Analysis of vehicles involved in RTA revealed two-wheelers in 95%, three-wheelers in 3%, and other vehicles in 2% cases. About 34% of total victims were drivers, and 66% were pillion riders or occupants of the vehicle. Conclusion: Our prospective, cross-sectional study aimed to highlight the facts of the increased incidence of RTAs due to stray animals roaming freely on roads, thus adding significant morbidity and costs to society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expansion in access to public infrastructure can have varied, microlevel impacts. In this paper, we use a discrete and quasi‐random change in the access to paved roads through a large‐scale rural road construction program in India to study how road access impacts fertility decisions and investments in child health. We find that increased access to paved roads at the district level decreases fertility, improves investments in children, and lowers infant mortality. We also provide evidence that highlights the mechanisms that drive this effect. First, we show that local roads improve access to health care facilities and raise immunization rates, which reduces infant mortality. Then, we demonstrate that last‐mile road connectivity has contrasting effects on employment across gender. Overall, the evidence suggests that rural roads can help accelerate demographic transition through their effects on fertility and infant mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world population is growing with more understanding of technical and social changes. Limited energy reserves and exponential demand growth have created a serious concern in all sectors including automobile sector. Electric vehicles (EVs) develop better means of transportation as it suppress to the adverse effects in using conventional ways of transportation. Among all the energy requirements, the automobile sector demands almost 21 %. It is a matter of concern because of limited energy reserves. Concerning all the adverse effects of using conventional ways of transportation, scientists and engineers are working on electric vehicles. Intensive research has been going on for decades to make electric vehicles a substitute for conventional transportation systems with the same reliability. The merit for EV charging infrastructure is an indispensable metric that plays a pivotal role in assessing the efficacy and progress of electric vehicle charging networks. This metric encompasses a range of critical factors, including the density and geographical distribution of charging stations, the charging speed and capacity, the utilization rates, the availability of alternative charging options (e.g., fast charging, slow charging), and the integration of optimization technologies for optimal energy management. Apart from technical advancements, the researchers are working on the challenges related to their mass adoption in current distribution system. For large-scale deployment of EVs, reliable and sustainable charging infrastructure needs to be developed. But the charging station placement problem is a complex problem. Charging stations must be placed in the distribution network in such a way that the negative impacts of the placement of charging stations on the operating parameters of the distribution network are minimal. The various aspects to gain deeper insights into the strengths and weaknesses of existing charging infrastructure, and to propose innovative solutions for further enhancing the efficiency, accessibility, and sustainability of EV charging networks. The location of the charging station is important and must consider the effect of EV charging demand at existing system with overall charging station placement cost. Therefore, the Voltage Reliability Power loss (VRP) Index (that integrates effect of important parameters such as voltage variation, reliability, and power loss) using Discrete Particle Swarm Optimization (DPSO) is minimized including overall charging station cost as an important constraint for this proposed algorithm. This overall charging station cost includes land cost, installation cost, and energy demand cost by electric vehicles. The results are compared with new discrete versions of different PSO techniques, namely, Standard-Discrete Particle Swarm Optimization (S-DPSO) and Passive Congregation Discrete Particle Swarm Optimization (PC-DPSO) optimization techniques. – Site selection of charging station at an economically viable location for electric vehicle users with minimum effect on the existing distribution network. – Site selection of charging station considering existing distribution substations, road congestion, and voltage stability of the distribution network bus. – Utilization of fuzzy inference algorithm for selecting a potential location. – Calculation of the land required for establishing a fast or a slow rate charging station based on FAME-India (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles in India), a government of India initiative for faster adoption of EVs. – Optimization of a cost function for commissioning EV stations including the cost of land, charging time, cost of energy, and number of vehicles charging points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural disasters affect economic activities and welfare of small‐scale producers in developing countries, but may also offer opportunities to reinvest in productive asset, economic capital, and new technologies for future economic prospects. This paper investigates the impacts of a livelihood recovery project that provided access to finance and rehabilitated communal infrastructures in the coastal communities of Tamil Nadu, India which were severely affected by the 2004 tsunami. We replicate the project's eligibility criteria to build the counterfactual to identify control households based on the validation of secondary data and administrative records. Using data from a carefully designed primary survey, we estimate the impacts of providing access to finance and rehabilitating communal infrastructures on economic and livelihood outcomes. Results indicate positive and significant impacts on income, asset and food security. These impacts are mainly driven by improved access to finance provided and participation in groups. Findings highlight the importance of ensuring access to finance for sustainable economic recovery among small‐scale producers, particularly in the aftermath of natural disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate model (GCM) projections are subject to significant uncertainties. Quantifying uncertainties in climate change projections improves credibility and makes climate data more reliable. This study aims to quantify the uncertainties in projected extreme precipitation during the 21st century over the homogeneous rainfall regions of India simulated by Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) GCMs. The percentile‐based square root error variance (SREV) method estimates model, scenario and ensemble uncertainties in projections of extreme precipitation. The uncertainty is investigated at four thresholds: 95th, 99th, 99.9th and 100th percentiles. The results show that the wet northeast region has a greater SREV, which is consistent with previous studies. At 99th and 99.9th percentiles, relative model SREV is dominant over the northeast (NE) region. However, at the 95th percentile high relative model SREV is found over the northwest (NW) region during southwest (June, July, August and September) and NE (October, November and December) monsoon seasons. Model uncertainty is the main source of uncertainty, followed by scenario and ensemble uncertainties. The study indicates that the arid NW region in India has a higher level of uncertainty than other regions with homogeneous rainfall. These findings will assist policymakers in planning infrastructure development in arid regions of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid urbanization trend in most developing countries including India is creating a plethora of civic concerns such as loss of green space, degradation of environmental health, scarcity of clean water, rise in air pollution, and exacerbated traffic congestion resulting in significant delays in vehicular transportation. To address the intricate nature of transportation issues, many researchers and planners have analyzed the complexities of urban and regional road systems using transportation models by employing transportation indices such as road length, network density, accessibility, and connectivity metrics. This study addresses the complexities of predicting road network density for small and medium-sized Indian cities that come under the Integrated Development of Small and Medium Towns (IDSMT) project at a national level. A hybrid framework based on Kernel Ridge Regression (KRR) and the CityGAN model is introduced to predict network density using spatial indicators of human settlements. The major goal of this study is to generate hyper-realistic urban patterns of small and medium-sized Indian cities using an unsupervised CityGAN model and to study the causal relationship between human settlement indices (HSIs) and transportation index (network density) using supervised KRR for the real cities. The synthetic urban universes mimic Indian urban patterns and evaluating their landscape structures through the settlement indices can aid in comprehending urban landscape, thereby enhancing sustainable urban planning. We analyzed 503 real cities to find the actual relationship between the urban settlements and their road density. The nonlinear KRR model may help urban planners in deriving the network density for GAN-generated futuristic urban patterns through the settlement indicators. The proposed hybrid process, termed as RidgeGAN model, can gauge the sustainability of urban sprawl tied to infrastructure and transportation systems in sprawling cities. Analysis results clearly demonstrate the utility of RidgeGAN in predicting network density for different kinds of human settlements, particularly for small and medium Indian cities. By predicting future urban patterns, this study can help in the creation of more livable and sustainable areas, particularly by improving transportation infrastructure in developing cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residents and visitors throughout the globe respect sophisticated route-guiding systems. Due to India's complicated city design and transportation infrastructure, an efficient and intelligent RG is required. Path planning is a crucial issue with route guiding systems for the road network. Because the time spent due to an accident occurring at an intersection or on the route is more relevant than the actual situation for path planning, it is helpful to investigate the path planning issue and incorporate accident characteristics. To address this problem, in this research, we developed a system that gives better routes by considering accident information. In our suggested framework, we addressed the future design and requirements of the prediction and route planning models for smart cities. We deployed an intelligent camera coupled with a machine learning module to forecast an accident at any junction or on the road. We update our database regularly after receiving accident information and use the route planning algorithm to get the different pathways with distance and accident information. These pathways enable the user to choose the best course for them. It is a dynamic and continuous 24x7 task. Thus, we have deployed VGG16, VGG19, and RESNET DL Architecture to detect the accident images with accuracies of 99.72%, 98.78%, and 82.06%, respectively. In the 2-class dataset, we have taken-accident and non-accident pictures from Kaggle. The number of training images was 900 and 200 for testing in both classes. Based on the Accident detection, the Dijkstra Algorithm was continuously up-to-date to get the path. It has been discovered that enhancing the intelligent RG system with deep learning can significantly improve prediction accuracy. Even though the experiment has some flaws, it offers practical guidance for the subsequent stages of the evolution of the transportation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ayush systems in India, specifically Ayurveda, have a large pool of infrastructure, human resources, and unique modalities for disease prevention, wellness, and management. These systems have seen significant growth in recent years, with the budget allocation for the Ayush Ministry increasing fourfold from INR 691 crore to INR 3050 crore over the last seven years. The Ayush systems can contribute significantly to the One Health approach, which addresses the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. The current commentary explores the areas of work related to the One Health approach, the potential role of the Ayush system in addressing these existing policies that support the integration of Ayush in the One Health approach, and future perspectives on the role of Ayush in One Health. Ayush systems advocate preventive measures, such as daily and seasonal regimens and the use of rejuvenating herbs and drugs, as well as therapeutic interventions for a range of health issues. Ayurveda also addresses environmental, animal, and plant health issues and promotes the creation of a healthy ecosystem between humans, animals, and the environment. In addition, Ayush can play a role in addressing zoonotic diseases, noncommunicable diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety and health of the elderly, children, and environment. To fully utilize the potential of Ayush in the One Health approach, these systems should be integrated into the healthcare infrastructure and network. Furthermore, initiation of collaborative projects, focused research, training and sensitization of Ayush human resources, and promotion of Ayush-based lifestyles and practices are some of the critical steps required to be taken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reflects on moving workspaces into homes during and after the Covid-19-induced lockdown. In our qualitative research in India, we investigate the processes of place-making and redrawing of boundaries between paid and unpaid care work. Through interviews and autoethnographic reflections, we analyse the process of new workspace making. We examine the erasing of the home from the workspace where historical hierarchies of gender and caste mediated the (re) organising of work boundaries between paid knowledge and unpaid care work. The study is based in a context where social and physical infrastructure for paid knowledge work could not be assumed to be available in homes. The paper contributes to the literature on place-making with stories from a new context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Revenue risk is the most critical factor that hampers the long-term viability of highway infrastructure service projects. This paper develops an integrated multi-method decision framework to evaluate and compare multiple revenue risk mitigation strategies for build-operate-transfer (BOT) highway infrastructure concessions. Using the project data of a real highway BOT case project in India, this paper models and evaluates various risk mitigation strategies on different performance metrics using Monte Carlo simulation analysis. The technical efficiencies of the risk mitigation strategies are estimated using data envelopment analysis (DEA) and efficient strategies are identified. The findings suggest that strategies comprising appropriate combinations of minimum revenue guarantee, excess revenue share, and revenue shortfall loan mitigate the revenue risk most efficiently. The decision framework and the findings facilitate efficient public infrastructure contract design by policymakers and set multiple research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Motivation: The adoption of school‐based management (SBM) reforms has led to the formation of local‐level school committees in many low‐ and middle‐income countries. These committees are usually created with the stated aim of giving parents or local community members a greater say in school management. Various studies have, however, highlighted difficulties with parental and female participation, casting doubt on the extent to which greater community representation improves school management. Purpose: The article examines empirically whether greater parental and female representation in Indian school management committees (SMCs) is associated with school improvement as measured by increases in the school‐level provision of basic infrastructure and services. Methods and approach: Fixed‐effects regression models are estimated using school‐level panel data. Findings I find that increased parental representation is not associated with improvements in school infrastructure/service provision. Rather, what contributes strongly to improved outcomes is increased representation of elected local authority members. Overall, schools with female‐majority SMCs also perform better. Policy implications: While the requirement for Indian SMCs to include representation from local government appears to be an effective feature of their composition, there is a need for capacity‐building efforts to ensure that parent members also contribute effectively to school management. SMCs should also be encouraged to meet the female representation quota, as the analysis suggests a positive association between female representation and school outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Government of India has adopted policies to grow the share of electric vehicles (EVs) to 'de-carbonize' India's transport sector and reduce import dependence for oil. For the lower-middle income economy two-wheelers play a significant role in the private vehicle market. This paper focuses on the effectiveness of some of the demand incentives; roles of infrastructure, market visibility; and peer effects on acceptance of electric two-wheelers in India. It utilizes a discrete choice survey to collect responses from Indian residents. Respondents in six different choice scenarios chose between two categories of petrol vehicles and an EV. Results from the random-parameter logit model indicate that price, refueling time, availability of infrastructure, vehicle taxes, and fuel prices are significant determinants of two-wheeler choice. Further, estimates suggest that consumers are willing-to-pay INR 567 to save in fuel cost by INR 1 per 100 kms, INR 997 for every percentage point reduction in taxes, INR 316 to save an additional minute of charging time, and INR 879 to increase the charging infrastructure by an additional percentage point. Government policies involving price subsidies, preferential tax treatments and improvements in infrastructure should continue. Differential pricing of petrol and electricity can also make electric two-wheelers more attractive. • Stated discrete choice survey on electric two-wheeler preference in India. • Infrastructure development is imperative to promote electric vehicles. • Differential tax treatments and fuel pricing can be favorable for demand. • Purchase subsidies help in bridging price gap and boost demand. • Long-term cost savings by electric vehicles should be promoted to boost demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrastructure-making in interwar India was a dynamic, multilayered process involving roads and vehicles in urban and rural sites. One of their strongest playgrounds was Bombay Presidency and the Central Provinces in central and western India. Focusing on this region in the interwar period, this paper analyzes the varied relationship between peasant households and town-centred modernizing agents in the making of road transport infrastructures. The central argument of this paper is about the persistence of bullock carts over motor cars in the region. This persistence was grounded in the specific regional environment, the effects of the 1930s economic depression, and the priorities of social classes. Pinpointing these connections, the paper highlights that "modernization" of infrastructure was not a simple, linear process of progressivist change, nor did it mean the survival of apparently "old" technologies in the modern era. Instead, the paper pays attention to conflicting social complexities, implications, and meanings of the connection between infrastructure and modernity that modernization assumptions often overlook. Here, the paper shows how technological change occurred as a result of real, material class interests pulling infrastructural technology in different directions. This was where and why arguments of road-motor lobbyists and cart advocates eventually clashed, and Gandhian social workers resisted motor transport in defense of peasant interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wheel was the first form of transportation developed by early people. Increasing population, longer distances, and shorter travel times need more cheap, faster modes of transportation. Environmental issues were never taken into account when choosing the most cost-effective mode of public transportation. Consequently, in the face of global pollution and warming restrictions, all stakeholders choose modes of transportation with little environmental impact. This has led to the development of sustainable transportation infrastructure, particularly in a country as rapidly developing as India. This paper examines the present situation, legislation, and grading systems for sustainable transportation in India and other developing nations. Furthermore, comparisons of India with developing nations of various continents in different aspects are also present. The difference in cost between a private car and a public vehicle indicates which form of transportation should be chosen. The challenges linked with urban and rural Indian roadways are explored, as well as their respective solutions. In order to accomplish sustainable transportation, traffic density and driver conduct are also considered. This study emphasises that sustainability is not just achieved through the use of cleaner fuel or the modification of road materials, although these are vital. Road design, regulatory changes, psychological behaviour, and transit safety are also crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infrastructure sector is one of the major pillars for economic growth and development of a country. The responsibility to develop this crucial sector is shifting away from the public to the private sector. After the economic liberalization in 1991, India opened the infrastructure sector, among many others, to private domestic and foreign investment. The shortage of electricity, the poor state of roads, and limited telecom access necessitated a stream of persistent reforms, which were expected to play a significant role in the infrastructure sector's growth. Although some subsectors witnessed success, others continued to face hurdles. The paper highlights the role of infrastructure in socio‐economic development through global literature. It also presents a story of infrastructure development in India since the inception of economic liberalization. It highlights various challenges that discourage private sector investments, thus providing a rationale for policy initiatives by the government. The paper also presents critical issues highlighted by multiple government committees over nearly three decades and identifies residual issues that merit attention. The outcomes of the paper are relevant in the context of developing and emerging economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their low CO2 emissions, uncomplicated maintenance, and low operating costs, plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) are currently acquiring popularity in the automotive industry. The charging infrastructure is crucial to the sustained expansion of the electric vehicles (EVs) market. In this paper, all aspects of the rapidly expanding Indian market for EV charging infrastructure are examined. Furthermore, for the Indian market, the available charging specifications, such as charging level, charging mode, charging point category, hardware, and software, are reviewed. Moreover, different organizations evaluate the standards and regulations of charging stations and EV integration into the grid for Indian consumers. In India, the current status of the charging infrastructure and prospective expansion plans are analyzed. The initiatives of the central and state governments for the expansion of charging infrastructure and support for EV consumers are examined. For Indian society, the strong actions that can be taken to develop charging infrastructure are analyzed. Moreover, the obstacles to EV charging network expansion and the role and current status of the key aggregators in expanding the charging infrastructure are also analyzed by considering the Indian market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral urbanization is the predominant mode of producing space in the Global South, in which residents build their own homes and neighborhoods, becoming citizens and political agents in the process. In this article, I bring feminist ethnographic attention to community infrastructure such as childcare centers built collectively by women residents in MGR Nagar, an informal urban settlement in Chennai, India, as understudied examples of autoconstruction in peripheral urbanization. Marxist feminism enables a theorization of these infrastructures of social reproduction as urban commons that assert collective spatial autonomy and enable moral claims on urban space, while serving the everyday needs of its residents. The subsequent demolition of the childcare center caused symbolic and material loss to residents. However, the ceding of territorial autonomy and spatial privileges was a way for them to make new material and political gains in the city, suggesting that a feminist politics of space is possible in which legitimacy and responsibility are demanded from the state. The commons in turn can be seen as durable countertopographies enabling a politics of place in multiple locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollution levels in major cities in India are increasing exponentially. According to Air Visual, 22 of the world's 30 most polluted cities are in India. Therefore, there is a need to find an alternative way to operate the conventional vehicles. Recently, the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020 was notified by the Government of India (GoI) to address the environmental challenges posed by conventional motor vehicles and boost the production of reliable, affordable and efficient Electric Vehicles (EVs). Without a charging infrastructure, electric vehicles are supposed to charge the battery in the home. The EV charger is required to charge the batteries. The charger is basically a non-linear device. This paper analyses harmonics generated by electric vehicles and the determination of the total harmonic distortion (THD) at different nodes of the residential distribution network. Decoupled Harmonic Power Flow (DHPF) was developed for residential distribution system to assess the harmonic effects of EV loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Purpose: To study the causes of maternal near miss and compared maternal and perinatal outcome of maternal near miss cases with controls (women with potential life-threatening complication [PLTC]) and maternal death. Methods: Mothers (n = 100) who fulfilled the WHO criteria for maternal near miss (MNM) were identified and enrolled in the study. Two controls for each near miss case were taken. This included the women who had same PLTC but did not reach near miss within one week of enrollment. The comparison of maternal and fetal outcome was done between the two groups and with the maternal death (MD) group, who presented initially as near miss. Results: Obstetric hemorrhage was the most common potential life-threatening complication in MNM and MD group. On multiple logistic regression analysis, we found that the presence of organ dysfunction was the independent predictor of near miss and need of mechanical ventilation and coagulation dysfunction as an independent predictor of maternal death. A mother in the near miss group or death group had a higher chance of giving birth to a still-born child (p =< 0.001). Risk of neonatal death after NICU admission was numerically more among near miss and death group than controls, although statistically insignificant (p> .05) Conclusion: Despite making tremendous progress in obstetric care facilities at a tertiary level, developing countries need to strengthen primary care infrastructure and referral system. To improve maternal care, there should be the provision of health education for all pregnant women and antenatal services should be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greenhouse gas emissions and PM2.5 pollution from vehicular exhausts and the consequent negative externalities underline the urgency of investigating low-carbon pathways for the freight sector. This paper undertakes a comprehensive analysis to determine the implications of a modal shift in the freight sector for the environment, energy systems and the economy. Stakeholder consultations are used to develop the qualitative narratives that are further used to set the parameters in energy-economy optimization models for deriving quantitative pathways. Our analysis includes four scenarios: Current Policy (CPS), Road Focused (FROAD), Rail Technology (TRAIL) and Harmonized Multimodal (HMML). The HMML scenario follows a balanced approach harmonizing the twin goals of reducing imported fuels and carbon emissions that can simultaneously assist in achieving development and decarbonization targets. Our results show that the HMML scenario based on the multimodal approach of creating a level playing field for all modes can reduce fossil fuel imports by 87.6% and CO 2 emissions by 96%, relative to CPS in 2050. The HMML scenario also envisages significant macroeconomic benefits – the cost of logistics as a percentage of GDP falls to 11%, and there are cumulative foreign exchange savings of 3.8 trillion USD from 2016 to 2050. However, electrification, the leading technology for the respective decarbonizing modes, will need policies that enhance research and innovation on batteries and infrastructure investments for charging along national and state highways. The main policy insight from our analysis is that multimodal logistics policy needs to be designed in alignment with clean energy-based electrification policy and national rail plans so that uniform rules from the origin govern all modes to the destination of goods transport. • Modelling energy economy to analyse implications of modal shift. • Combining stakeholder consultations with quantitative evaluations. • Multimodal approach achieves development and mitigation goals at the same time. • Over 80% of savings on imports of fossil fuels are possible by 2050 relative to the current policy scenario. • Cumulative foreign exchange savings of 3.8 trillion USD can be achieved from 2016 to 2050. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following years, electric vehicles (EVs) are promising technology for shifting scattered exhaust emissions in mega‐cities to integrated power plants in rural areas, especially in urban areas. Transport sector electrification and increased popularity of EVs make scientists and researchers, search for charging stations. The ideal position, charge scheduling, and developed charging infrastructure are the primary concern for the large‐scale deployment of EVs. This paper describes the possible demand for EVs charging station infrastructure and challenges in the Indian situation. Along these lines, this study also provides the research community with the latest developments and research findings of charging infrastructure for EVs in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay discusses the veracity of legal tenure granted to informal settlers on public land in the context of top-down neo-liberal policies superimposed on an already existing regime of urban regulations and welfare measures. It raises questions regarding the fairness of practices where the poor pay the price for changing development models. Insights from Madhya Pradesh (MP) state in India show that legal tenure documents stimulate incremental investment in building and are considered robust enough for channelling government funding for housing improvement. Such investment is secure until the land becomes valuable enough to support profitable redevelopment or is required for high-profile infrastructure projects to refashion cities. This leads to a mixed bag of security and precarity of the poor in a temporal framework of land markets, law, dramatic reordering of city spaces and dualistic policies catering to the market and to welfare. (143 words) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a distinctive set of data from 2006 to 2018, this study inquires into the various factors of Public‐Private Partnerships (PPPs) in infrastructure projects. Sixteen exogenous variables from extant literature are used to identify significant factors to forecast the future flow of PPPs in the different states of the Republic of India. Two measures of PPP infrastructure projects that is, cost of the project (log value) and the percentage of total project cost are used as endogenous variables. The used data set is associated with a total of 62 PPP projects financed in 10 states of the Republic of India. Three alternative methods namely, OLS, FMOLS, and DOLS are used to check the consistency of the findings. According to three techniques of unit root tests, the data series of different variables are found to be stationary at the first difference. Johansen's cointegration technique reflects that there is cointegration in both the proposed models for the PPPs. Further, the empirical findings of the study reflect that the size (population), capital and revenue budgets & development expenditures have a positive relationship with the dependent variables. On the other side, some of the exogenous variables namely, regional disparities, GDP, FDI, political stability, debt, and fiscal indicator showcase an adverse effect on the flow of the PPP projects. The present study shall be lucrative for the state governments in addition to the private parties involved in the PPP projects. The identified significant variables of the present study will be useful to forecast the upcoming number of PPP projects in the various Indian States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban areas account for around 70% of global GHG emissions, one-third of which is attributed to the transportation sector. Thus, decarbonising urban mobility is critical in the endeavours to mitigate climate change. Electric vehicles (EV) have potential to control global decarbonisation of transportation. India has air quality index of 141, which is amongst the highest in the world. Considering this troubling figure, government has initiated various schemes and initiative plans. This study reviews the progress and current status of EV adoption in India with regard to availability, manufacturing, charging infrastructure, commercial vehicle electrification and in-depth analysis of FAME-I and FAME-II schemes along with state level initiatives. This research explores the current state of EV adoption through the integrative perspective of financial resources, infrastructure and technology availability highlighting various complications. Based on these challenges, the study proposes points of improvment in each fragment such as policies, infrastructure,electricity demand and sustainable source of energy. A roadmap is recommended of primary factors that should be priortised for effective EV adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric vehicles (EVs) have emerged as a fast-growing industry not only in India but all over the world due to their environment friendly and economic properties. Moreover, it is being seen as a future replacement for fast depleting fossil fuels. But still, the international vehicle market cannot accept EVs as a ubiquitous vehicle manufacturing standard due to their short cruising range and underdeveloped charging infrastructure. Therefore, as an immediate and cost-effective solution to a problem subject to limited battery capacity, the EV route regularization, i.e., optimum energy usage route selection becomes utmost important. To accomplish this objective, this paper proposes a meta-heuristic routing model based on the principles of Artificial Bee Colony (ABC). The proposed model has been designed to consider prominent energy consumption influencing parameters like speed, battery health, road elevation, etc. Moreover, tractive effort modeling on different road surfaces like dry, wet, snow, and icy is also embedded in the design of EV route modeling. The simulation of the proposed model has been done to quantify its performance bys utilizing route maps as well as real-time information of vehicles' location by the Warrigal project as input. The analysis of obtained results has revealed the traces of saving in EVs' energy consumption of about 7.1% in comparison with Google maps if the route suggested by the proposed model is followed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floodplain corridors contain ∼21% of the total land area of West Bengal and hold alignment of ∼44% road and ∼26% railway networks of the state. Therefore, understanding of potential interactions between transport infrastructure and river systems is essential for river basin management in general and understanding the longitudinal and lateral (dis)connectivity across the twenty catchments of WB in particular. Freely available GIS data has been used for future river and floodplain management and policy making using multiple spatial analytical tools. The study finds ∼21% of the floodplain area is laterally disconnected from rivers, which could be raised by 260% after considering riverside artificial embankment. About 40% of state's land area comes within one kilometre proximal distance between river and transport networks and ∼13% of transport networks are at risk of waterlogged during a flood. This study has recommended a river friendly comprehensive plan for transport network development in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against the backdrop of socio-economic crisis and declining role of the state in infrastructure development, this article evaluates the inter-district disparities in social infrastructure (SI) and physical infrastructure (PI), and consequently attempts to examine the impact of SI and PI on economic growth in Punjab at two points in time, that is, 2004–2005 and 2016–2017. For this purpose, a district level social infrastructure index (SII) and a district level physical infrastructure index (PII) encapsulating 12 and 10 indicators, respectively, have been computed employing principal component analysis. The findings of the study revealed that PI acts as a pivotal catalyst to accelerate economic growth, whereas SI does not demonstrate any significant association with economic growth in Punjab. Furthermore, it is observed that pervasive inter-district disparities exist in SI and PI development and the majority of the districts depict a gloomy picture of infrastructure development in Punjab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The north-eastern region of India presents intra-regional disparity, which is reflected in every aspect of development. The transport sector, especially railway transportation, is one of the important aspects, and the development of railway infrastructure seems to be very different in every region. The research question addressed in this study was "Which factors, geo-physical or socio-economic, influenced the variation in the level of railway development in Northeast India?" The aim of the study was to delineate regional differentiation on railway development in Northeast India and to analyse the reasons for different development patterns of railway lines among the north-eastern states. The research was based on secondary data collected from multiple sources, and the existing synthetic indicator was applied for the classification of eight states based on their railway infrastructural status. An alternative approach called the alternative synthetic indicator has been proposed and found to be more efficient than the existing synthetic indicator. The degree of inequality among the northeastern states by considering railway infrastructural variables was measured by plotting a Lorenz curve; the corresponding Gini coefficient specifies the unequal distribution of railway infrastructure among all the northeastern states. The causality of such unequal development has been analysed through a correlation test by defining the composite dimension index. The analysis revealed that all the externalities of regional inequality significantly influence the development of railway lines in northeastern states. Environmental determinism plays a crucial role in railway development in Northeast India, but political willingness is also crucial for creating an actual state of differentiation and will play a special role in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the upcoming years, container terminals in India can attain more substantial throughput targets by exploiting their untapped potential of throughput. Numerous factors may affect the existing terminals' ability to perform to their maximum capability. Despite the significance of the untapped potential, very few studies are available on the identification of the factors and their influence on the operational performance of the container terminals in India. The objective of this study is to identify the enabling and inhibiting factors and develop a conceptual model that indicates how their relationships affect the operational performance of the container terminals in India. This study identified 21 enabler attributes, 15 inhibitor attributes, and seven performance indicators through an extensive literature review and expert consultation. Furthermore, exploratory factor analysis was adopted to group the identified attributes into five enabling factors, three inhibiting factors, and two performance indicator factors through a questionnaire survey of 81 respondents from different container terminals in India. A hypothesized conceptual model encompassing all these attributes and factors was created and tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS SEM). The results revealed that the considered enabling and inhibiting factors have a significant influence on the operational performance of container terminals. Infrastructure upgrading and system initiatives, terminal facilities and policy, reefer (refrigerated container) systems and logistics advantage, systems and process, and concessions and cost initiatives are the critical enabling factors. In addition, management- and resource-related issues, infrastructure issues and market capture, and policy- and procedure-related issues may be deemed as critical inhibiting factors. This study may help port professionals and port operators to incorporate these factors and improve the operational performance of container terminals. Furthermore, this study contributes to the minimal literature available on the factors influencing the performance of Indian container terminals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What are the effects of biometric and digital technologies on social protection for the poor in India? Drawing on ethnographic research from rural Tamil Nadu, this paper presents evidence of how new technologies are experienced by beneficiaries of the Public Distribution System (PDS), and analyses the impacts of technology innovations on transparency, exclusion and mediation. The authors focus on the implementation of 'smartcards,' new digitised and Aadhaar-enabled ration cards, introduced in ration shops across Tamil Nadu in 2017. They first document how digitised smartcards and mobile text messages transform transparency for beneficiaries by introducing new opacities and information gaps. They then demonstrate how a lack of transparency (re)produces forms of exclusion that remain a challenge under the automated PDS. Finally, the paper highlights how novel forms of kin and non-kin mediation play a mitigating role in accessing PDS, and constitute a vital part of the infrastructure underpinning social welfare delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public investment through its long term benefits is one of the significant contributors to agricultural growth in India. Despite the fact, the public sector investment in Indian agriculture declined over the years and the researchers have considered increasing input subsidy as the main cause of its decline. This paper tries to empirically examine the claim that input subsidy discourages public investment in Indian agriculture. Applying an "auto‐regressive distributive lag" (ARDL) model to time‐series data at the national level and panel‐ARDL model to sub‐national level panel data the study confirms that input subsidies do negatively affect public investment in Indian agriculture and results in discouraging the public sector investment. Therefore, the policy implication of the study suggests that for more efficient and sustainable growth in Indian agriculture, the need of the hour is the careful analysis of all these input subsidies and gradual removal of unproductive ones so as to make resources available for farm investment in social and physical infrastructure. This may help to accelerate and sustain the growth dynamics of Indian agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban investments in India over the past three decades have helped its cities advance in terms of improved infrastructure and better economic standards. However, the cities are simultaneously facing challenges of polarised and unequally distributed development benefits. This paper advances the inclusive cities' agenda beyond the constructs of "pro-poor development" and develops a multidimensional evaluation and monitoring framework. Through the review and analysis of 20 smart cities in India, the paper presents the gaps and patterns of relationships within the critical factors of inclusion. The need to develop alternate development models that shall promote socio-economic transformation in smart cities in India is emphasised through this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active modes of travel are effective transportation means for accessibility to opportunity in the less-developed regions. There has been less focus on rural commuting in context to developing nations where there is existing 'accessibility poverty' in the regions. Earlier studies focused on India's megaregions as a case study region, but factors like vehicle ownership and ease of travel from home to transport modes and/or transport infrastructures were overlooked. The present study assesses the other side of the Indian regional physiognomies, which is predominantly rural and primarily the source of the labor force and marginal workers for all other regions of India. The present study poses the question, 'What kind of modal accessibility and transport-related affordability influences the various ranges of commuting distances in the rural settings?' specifically in the Indian rural context and the non-motorized milieu. Multivariate regression analysis is used to investigate the determinant of the share of commuting on foot and by bicycle as a mode of travel as a dependent variable. The key outcomes from the research are: (i) Bicycle ownership by the household appears as the primary determinant for opting 'on foot' or by bicycle mode of travel to work. (ii) Despite the proximity to public transport and paratransit modes, commuters optioned for bicycles. (iii) The presence of a high share of disadvantaged groups in the district leads to 'on foot' even for long walking distances. (iv) Transport-related variables as the determinant are critical for short-distance commute, while socio-economic variables are crucial for long-distance commuting. • Transport related accessibility and affordability as the determinant of rural commuting patterns. • Bicycle ownership is the predominant determinant of a non-motorized commuting pattern in rural India. • Emphasizing NMT is the key to regional policy and strategic decision making in rural transport policy formulation initiative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical properties of rocks have significant engineering value. Compressive strength and density of rocks are used in many rock mechanics related studies pertaining to civil and mining activities, stability of the excavations and estimation of the support required. In addition, rocks like granite are used as a building material and are encountered in many civil and infrastructure projects. However, these properties vary with increase or decrease in their temperature. A host of data exists on heat treatment of different rocks. In order to augment such studies and to further the know-how in this discipline, a comprehensive analysis of 56 samples of two types of granites from India was taken up in this study. The tests for compressive strength and density with increase in temperature from 35°C to 600°C were devised and conducted. The results revealed that the behaviour of two groups of the granite varied in a noticeable range on a linear scale. A reduction of 45% to 49% in strength from room temperature to 600°C in the two types of granites points to the loss of strength with increasing temperature. A reduction of 4.3% to 6.3% in density of the samples on heating can be considered to be mild. The rearrangement of grains, loss of water content initially and increase in volume on further heating are considered to be the major reasons for reduction of such physical properties in a linear manner. Colour changes have also observed in the heating process which needs to be explained in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of electric mobility is a promising strategy for decarbonizing the automotive sector. India is one of the countries that support having at least 30% of new vehicle sales be electric by 2030. To achieve the EV ecosystem to a considerable level, many efforts are required in EV charging infrastructure. Battery swapping is treated as a promising solution to accelerate the mass adoption of EVs in India. It is swapping model as an alternative to a lack of charging stations and to reduce range anxiety. This review paper discuss the role of batter swapping, its importance, pros & cons in 4-wheeler passenger car segments. It highlights the policy guidelines in India related to battery swapping, comparison of swapping vs. charging & ideal places for battery swapping station and role of EV battery pack. The review summary recommends the need to standardize the battery pack to enhance swapping among a single OEM across various name plates and among all OEMs with a collaborative effort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this contribution, I reflect on the under-recognized role of caste and its allied notions of pollution and purity in the making of deeply inequitable, environmentally unjust, and splintered Indian cities. Published in 2001, Graham and Marvin's Splintering Urbanism addressed the fragmented and unequal nature of infrastructure networks in the wake of globalization in cities of the Global South. Of particular interest to scholars since then has been to trouble the historicity of the book's central thesis, demonstrating that postcolonial cities have always been splintered along the lines of race, class, and ethnicity via unequal infrastructural networks and segregated housing; as such, globalization is not the primary cause of inequality. Yet, the category of caste, intersecting with class, religion, and gender, still has not featured centrally in critical urban studies and urban political ecology. Drawing on long-term research on Bangalore (southern India), I sketch mutually reinforcing axes of a research agenda in urban political ecology, namely the interrogation of caste power in urban property, infrastructure, and labor regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ever-growing environmental concerns caused due to fossil fuel depletion and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has paved way for consumers to consider Electric Vehicles (EV) as a rapidly emerging operational alternative to vehicles that run on fossil fuels like petrol, diesel and CNG. The paper aims to identify the possible factors in consumers’ intention of Electric Vehicle adoption. A quantitative approach is adopted and the data is collected from 172 respondents from Bengaluru through an online survey method using snowball sampling method. A robust statistical method, such as exploratory factor analysis is conducted using IBM SPSS 23 to identify the factors. The study identified factors such as Financial Barriers, Vehicle Performance Barriers, Lack of charging infrastructure, Environmental Conservation, Societal Influence, Social Awareness of Electric Vehicles as influencers towards electric vehicle adoption. The outcome of the study helps the policymakers to modify the current policy with respect to electric vehicle in the emerging nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]