Pre Feasibility Report

Transcription

1 *representational image for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMIC CORRIDORS, INTER CORRIDORS, FEEDER ROUTES AND NATIONAL CORRIDORS TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF FREIGHT MOVEMENT IN INDIA UNDER BHARATMALA PARIYOJANA Lot-3/Chhattisgarh/Package-1 Durg Raipur section of NH-53 (Mumbai Kolkata Economic Corridor) September 2018

2 Bharatmala Pariyojana, Durg Raipur section of NH-53 (Mumbai Kolkata Economic Corridor) DISCLAIMER This report has been prepared by DPR Consultant on behalf of NHAI for the internal purpose and use of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF&CC), Government of India. This document has been prepared based on public domain sources, secondary and primary research. The purpose of this report is to obtain Term of Reference (ToR) for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for Environmental Clearance to develop the Economic Corridor to improve the efficiency of freight movement in India under Bharatmala Pariyojana, Lot-3, Durg Raipur Section. It is, however, to be noted that this report has been prepared in best faith, with assumptions and estimates considered to be appropriate and reasonable but cannot be guaranteed. There might be inadvertent omissions/errors/aberrations owing to situations and conditions out of the control of NHAI and DPR Consultant. Further, the report has been prepared on a best-effort basis, based on inputs considered appropriate as of the mentioned date of the report. Neither this document nor any of its contents can be used for any purpose other than stated above, without the prior written consent from NHAI. ii

3 Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary Introduction to the project Identification of the Project and Project Proponent Brief Description of nature of the Project Need of the project and its Importance to the country of region Demand & Supply Gap Imports vs. Indigenous Production Export Possibility Domestic and Exports Market Employment Generation (Direct and Indirect) Project Description Type of the Project including Interlinked and Interdependent Projects, if any Project Location Details of Alternative Sites to be considered and basis of selection of proposed site Size and Magnitude of Operation Project Description Raw Materials, mode of transportation of raw materials and finished product Resource Optimization / Recycling and Reuse Water and Energy- Source and Availability Quantity of wastes to be generated and scheme for their management and disposal Schematic Representations of the Feasibility Drawings Site Analysis Site Connectivity Land Form, Use & Ownership Topography Existing Land-use Pattern Existing Infrastructure Soil Classification Climatic Data from Secondary Sources Available Social Infrastructure Forest & Wildlife Area Planning Brief Proposed Infrastructure ii

4 6.1 Industrial Area Residential Area Green Belt Social Infrastructure Connectivity Drinking Water Management Sewerage System Industrial Waste Management Solid Waste Management Power Requirement Supply & Source Rehabilitation and Resettlement Plan Project schedule and cost estimates Analysis of proposal List of Tables Table 2-1 Project Salient Features... 2 Table 3-1: Project Coordinates... 4 Table 3-2: Raw Material requirement... 6 Table 4-1: Long-term ( ) Climatological Conditions at IMD Observatory at Durg List of Figures Figure: 1 Location of the Project stretch... 5 Figure: 2 Land use of the Project stretch Figure: 3 Windrose of the Durg Observatory iii

5 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Road projects are meant for improving the quality of life of people and developing the country s economy. Along with all positive impacts of the road projects, there may also be some significant detrimental impact on nearby communities and environment. To account for adverse impacts, environmental impact assessment is utmost necessary. These concerns for environmental issue in road projects have also become a part of legal requirements and requirements for obtaining financial support. Environmental assessment is therefore, of prime importance in road projects. The proposed project pertains to Development of Economic Corridors to improve the efficiency of freight movement in India under Bharatmala Pariyojana[Lot-3/Chhattisgarh/Package-1(Durg-Raipur Section)] which shall start at NH 53 near Tadesara village (Durg) and terminate at NH - 53 near village Paragaon-1(Arang, Raipur). The proposed project shall connect Rajnandgaon directly to Basna and various other parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. The work for carrying out the DPR studies along with obtaining all relevant clearance has been awarded to M/s Transys Consulting Pvt. Ltd. As per MoEF&CC EIA notification, 2006, the proposed project is covered under category 7 f. As per the statutory requirements, the project needs to submit the Environmental Impact Assessment Report to MoEF&CC, Delhi in order to obtain Environmental Clearance. The application is done for the grant of Terms of Reference for conducting the EIA studies for the project. 2 INTRODUCTION TO THE PROJECT 2.1 Identification of the Project and Project Proponent The proposed project pertains to Development of Economic Corridor to improve the efficiency of freight movement in India under Bharatmala Pariyojana[Lot-3/Chhattisgarh/Package-1(Durg-Raipur Section)] which shall start at NH 53 near Tadesara village (Durg) and terminate at NH - 53 near village Paragaon-1(Arang, Raipur). The proposed project shall connect Rajnandgaon directly to Basna and various other parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), an autonomous agency of the Government of India, is responsible for management of a network of national highways across the country. It is a nodal agency of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Government of India. Its vision is to meet the nation s need for the provision and maintenance of national highways network to global standards and to meet user expectations in the most time-bound and cost-effective manner, within the strategic policy framework set by the Government of India and thus promoting economic wellbeing and quality of life of the people. NHAI shall be the nodal authority/ proponent for the development of this Project. Page 1

6 2.2 Brief Description of nature of the Project Project alignment shall start at NH 53 near Tadesara village (Durg) and terminate at NH - 53 near village Paragaon-1(Arang, Raipur). Salient features of the Project are as follows. Sl. No. Particular 1. Project Name 2. Nature of Project Economic Corridor Table 2-1 Project Salient Features Details Development of Economic Corridor to improve the efficiency of freight movement in India under Bharatmala Pariyojana, Durg Raipur section of NH-53 (Mumbai Kolkata Economic Corridor) Junction with NH 53 near Tadesara village (Durg) to 3. Location of project stretch Junction at NH - 53 near village Paragaon-1(Arang, Raipur). 4. Geographical Coordinates 21 8'18.26"N 81 10'49.55"E to 21 9'52.39"N 82 0'43.41"E 5. Land details Agricultural land with patches of settlements 6. Water demand KL 7. Sources of water Tanker Supply and Groundwater if required 8. Man power Power requirement 10. Nearest railway station 11. Nearest highway/national highway state kva which shall be managed from State Electricity boards. Parmalkasa Railway Station, 8 km (approx.) in West direction from the starting point of the proposed stretch. Pauwara Railway Station about 2 kms towards South-West from Ch Km. Kendri Railway Station 1.2 km towards North from Ch Km. Arang Mahanadi Railway Station, 4.1 km in North direction from Ch Kms. The proposed project is itself a National Highway i.e. NH 53. However, it passes through AH 46, NH 30, SH 22, SH 7 and AH Nearest air-port Raipur Airport, 9.7 km in North Direction 13. Seismic zone Zone II and III 2.3 Need of the project and its Importance to the country of region The existing direct route between the two points i.e. Rajnandgaon and Basna is via Durg, Bhilai and Raipur which is not only long but also experiences heavy traffic during peak hours. Thus, the project is proposed to connect the two important cities of Chhattisgarh and further to Odisha. The proposed route shall thus enhance the opportunity of transport and communication with Rajnandgaon to the rest of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. Also the commuters commuting between the Page 2

7 route shall save both time and fuel. The route shall be reduced from 126 Kms to 92.2 Kms (i.e. about 25 %). The Project will further have following benefits at national and regional level: High-speed connectivity and access: The projected corridor is a proposed economic corridor. This will avoid traffic congestion and speed-up the freight movement Aiding economic growth: The seamless connectivity will provide better access to vehicles as a link to the National Highways. The Project will reduce travel time and provide boost to trade and commerce linked to the regions connected through this economic corridor. Growth of backward areas: The biggest strength of the alignment is that it plans to cover backward districts of Chhattisgarh. As a result of connectivity and access to other parts of the country, these backward areas will be aided to integrate with rest of the world. Further, freight and passenger traffic on the economic corridor will help promoting ancillary economy of these regions. Decongestion of existing National and State Highways: The proposed corridor will take away traffic pressures from existing SH and NH passing through various cities. Also, longdistance traffic will shift to the proposed corridor, thereby leaving the NH and SH for regional and local usage. Usage shift: Long-distance traffic will shift from existing roads to the proposed Economic Corridor, resulting in lesser congestion on these highways Improved safety: Due to access control, the Roadway & Travel Safety of the traffic connecting the cities will be enhanced as there will be minimum distractions & conflict zones Support to industry: Different types of industries like Manufacturing, Tourism etc. along the proposed corridor will be facilitated in their business operation and reachability. 2.4 Demand & Supply Gap The demand for the proposed Project was assessed across various parameters: Reduction in Route Congestion Savings in Travel Time and Cost: The proposed project is expected to reduce the distance to be travelled between Rajnandgaon and Basna, leading to the following cost savings for users: Vehicle Operation Cost (VOC) Travel Time (VOT) Toll costs 2.5 Imports vs. Indigenous Production The proposed project is a highway and doesn t involve any manufacturing and production. Thus, the section is not applicable for it. 2.6 Export Possibility The proposed project is a highway and doesn t involve any manufacturing and production. Thus, the section is not applicable for it. Page 3

8 However, the connectivity improvements through the proposed Project shall have several indirect benefits. Proposed development will support freight traffic movement between various parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha, thereby aiding faster movement to and from the connected region. 2.7 Domestic and Exports Market Not applicable 2.8 Employment Generation (Direct and Indirect) The proposed project shall generate an employment opportunity to about 1200 persons. It shall also generate additional employment opportunities in form of transportation of construction materials, greenbelt development and implementation of EMP. During operations phase, the Project will largely have indirect employment benefits in form of highway amenities and through economic & social hubs developed around the Economic Corridor. Efficient reach and connectivity to distant markets will further enhance economy of the districts and create employment opportunities. 3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION 3.1 Type of the Project including Interlinked and Interdependent Projects, if any The proposed project involves Development of Economic Corridor to improve the efficiency of freight movement in India under Bharatmala Pariyojana[Lot-3/Chhattisgarh/Package-1(Durg-Raipur Section)] which shall start at NH 53 near Tadesara village (Durg) and terminate at NH - 53 near village Paragaon-1(Arang, Raipur). There is no interlinked or interdependent project for the proposed project. 3.2 Project Location The length proposed for the stretch measures 92.2 Kms and starts at start at NH 53 near Tadesara village (Durg) and terminate at NH - 53 near village Paragaon-1(Arang, Raipur). Table 3-1: Project Coordinates Sl. No. Starting point Terminating point Coordinates 21 8'18.26"N 81 10'49.55"E 21 9'52.39"N 82 0'43.41"E Page 4

9 Bharatmala Pariyojana, Durg Raipur section of NH-53 (Mumbai Kolkata Economic Corridor) Location of the Project stretch is shown in Figure 1 below. Figure 1: Location of the Project stretch Page 5

10 3.3 Details of Alternative Sites to be considered and basis of selection of proposed site Three alignment options were considered in order to finalise the proposed alignment. Both the alignments were compared and the final alignment has been selected after prior analysis on basis of minimum tree felling, minimum exorbitant cost, comparatively lower land degradation and lesser environmental impacts. The detailed alternative analysis is enclosed as Annexure Size and Magnitude of Operation The total length of the proposed road is 92.2 Kms. The proposed RoW is 70 mtrs. 3.5 Project Description The proposed project pertains to Development of Economic Corridor to improve the efficiency of freight movement in India under Bharatmala Pariyojana[Lot-3/Chhattisgarh/Package-1(Durg-Raipur Section)] which shall start at NH 53 near Tadesara village (Durg) and terminate at NH - 53 near village Paragaon-1(Arang, Raipur). The key plan of the alignment of the project is provided in Figure 2.1 above. 3.6 Raw Materials, mode of transportation of raw materials and finished product The Project entails development of an economic corridor and will require road construction materials. Construction material like aggregates, sand, stone, etc. shall be procured from nearby approved quarries. Separate environmental approval shall be sought for any new quarry. Quantity of the construction material required for the proposed Project is given in table below. Table 3-2: Raw Material requirement Sl. No. Particular Unit Compacted volume Loose volume 1. Embankment fill including median fill Cum 85,32,604 1,19,45, Selected fill on RE wall Cum 36,428 50, Sub grade fill Cum 18,68,545 26,15, Fly ash fill Cum 14,68,880 20,56, Granular shoulder Cum 71,995 1,00, Bitumen MT 23,369 23, Emulsion MT 5,98,447 5,98, Cement MT 2,20,759 2,20, Steel reinforcement MT 29,547 29, strand wire MT Aggregates cum 14,51,988 14,51, Sand cum 5,11,313 5,11, Stone cum Water for concrete works KL 1,10, Water for earth works KL 28,61, Total requirement of water KL 29,72, Resource Optimization / Recycling and Reuse Measures shall be taken to use the materials saved from other projects of NHAI. Also the soil excavated for the project shall be used for backfilling, site levelling and greenbelt development. Page 6

11 Sewage shall be treated either in the bio-toilets or recycling chambers attached with septic tanks. Spent oil generated from DG sets shall be properly stored in HDPE drums and shall be sold to the government approved recycling agencies. The Project will reuse the soil and other material in the following ways:- Topsoil from the agriculture land shall be stored separately for utilisation in avenue and median plantation. The earth material excavated from the high-rise area shall be used for backfilling of low laying area and embankment. Sewage shall be routed through portable STP or diverted into the soak pit. Treated water from STP will be used for sprinkling or gardening. Oil generated from Diesel Generator (DG) sets shall be properly stored in HDPE drums and to be sold to State Pollution Control Board (PCB) approved recycling vendor. 3.8 Water and Energy- Source and Availability In addition to the Sub-Clause of MoRTH Specifications, The Contractor shall source the requirement of water preferably from surface water bodies, rivers, canals and tanks in the project area. Only at locations where surface water sources are not available, the Contractor can contemplate extraction of ground water, after intimation and consent from the CGWB. To avoid disruption/disturbance to other water users, the Contractor shall extract water from fixed locations and consult the local people before finalizing the locations. The Contractor shall comply with the requirements of Ground Water Department and seek their approval for extraction of ground water. Bore wells installed and used for the project shall be left in good operating condition for the use of local communities. The Contractor shall prevent any interference with the supply to or abstraction from, and prevent any pollution of, water resources as a result of the execution of the Works. The total water demand of the project is KL, which is inclusive of KL for Construction purpose KL for domestic consumption and utilities requirement KL for gardening/ green belt development KL for Dust Suppression The water requirement for the construction phase will be met by water tankers from approved vendors. Bore-well, if required, will be operated after approval from the competent authority. Power, during construction, will be sourced from local distribution company. DG sets as alternative arrangement will also be arranged in construction camp. 3.9 Quantity of wastes to be generated and scheme for their management and disposal Waste management shall be done as per Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and Construction and demolition waste Management Rules Page 7

12 The waste generated from the project shall be mostly food and construction waste which shall be generated by the workers. The approximate quantity of wastes to be generated from the project is 600 Kg per day. As per CPHEEO Norms, 500 grams of solid wastes are generated per unit employee/worker. Source php 3.10 Schematic Representations of the Feasibility Drawings Typical Cross Section Drawings are enclosed as Annexure-3. 4 SITE ANALYSIS 4.1 Site Connectivity The proposed road shall connect two major cities of Chhattisgarh i.e. Rajnandgaon and Basna. The proposed stretch is directly connected to various important roads and railway stations. The area proposed for the stretch measures 92.2 Kms and shall start at NH 53 near Tadesara village (Durg) and terminate at NH - 53 near village Paragaon-1(Arang, Raipur). The nearby railway stations are Parmalkasa Railway Station which is 8 km (approx.) in West direction from the starting point of the proposed stretch, Pauwara Railway Station which is about 2 kms towards South-West from Ch Km, Kendri Railway Station which is 1.2 km towards North from Ch Km and Arang Mahanadi Railway Station which is 4.1 km in North direction from Ch Kms. The Raipur Airport is about 9.7 km in North Direction from the proposed stretch. Hence the site is well connected to other parts of the country. 4.2 Land Form, Use & Ownership The landform or the topography of the project stretch is undulating plain with varying elevations i.e. as low as 271 mtrs AMSL to 315 mtrs AMSL. The landuse of the proposed stretch is agricultural with patches of settlements. Majority of the land is owned by local farmers and other private stakeholders. However, there are patches which are owned by government as well. Page 8

13 Bharatmala Pariyojana, Durg Raipur section of NH-53 (Mumbai Kolkata Economic Corridor) 4.3 Topography The topography of the project stretch is undulating plain with varying elevations i.e. as low as 271 mtrs AMSL to 315 mtrs AMSL. Detailed topographic map will be provided at EIA stage. Maximum Elevation (315 mtrs AMSL) Proposed Alignment Minimum Elevation (271 mtrs AMSL) Page 9

14 4.4 Existing Land-use Pattern The land use of the proposed stretch is mostly agricultural with patches of settlements. (Source- Bhuvan ) Figure: 2 Land use of the Project stretch 4.5 Existing Infrastructure About 135 commercial and residential structures are falling in the proposed stretch. The details shall be provided in the EIA report. 4.6 Soil Classification Soils of Chhattisgarh are mainly developed by the action and interactions of relief, parent material and climate. Biotic features, mainly the natural vegetation follows the climatic patterns. According to 'Soil Taxonomy' (7 th approximation) soil of Chhattisgarh fall under 5 orders and 9 dominating sub groups (Table 1). Entisols covers 19.5% cultivated area of the state, Inceptisols 14.8%, Alfisols 39%, Mollisols 0.3% and Vertisols 26.4%. Dominating 9 sub-groups are namely,typic Ustorthent (Covering an area of 1.6% of the total cultivated area), lithic Ustorthent (17.9%), typic Haplustept (9.5 %), Vertic Haplustept(5.3 %), Typic Rhodustalf (6.1 %), Typic Haplustalf (32.9 %), lithic Haplustoll (0.3 %), Chromic Haplusrert (19.3 %), Typic Haplustert (7.1 %). Soil type along the proposed road varies from Entisols, Inceptisols, Alfisols and Vertisols. (Source- chtenvis) 4.7 Climatic Data from Secondary Sources The climate of area around the proposed alignment is tropical. It is hot and humid because of its proximity to the Tropic of Cancer and its dependence on the monsoons for rains. Summer temperatures can reach 45 C (113 F). The monsoon season is from late June to October and is a Page 10

15 welcome respite from the heat. Chhattisgarh receives an average of 1,292 millimetres of rain. Winter is from November to January. Winters are pleasant with low temperatures and less humidity. Indian Meteorological Dept. is operating 3 nos. of observatories in near vicinity of proposed highway alignment. Considering very close proximity of Durg, data of Durg observatory has been considered. 30 years ( ) long-term climatological data was collected for assessment of prevailing meteorological scenario of the project region. The details of long term climatological conditions are given in Table below. The details of long term climatological conditions are given in Table below. Figure: 3 Windrose of the Durg Observatory Source- Page 11

16 Table 4-1: Long-term ( ) Climatological Conditions at IMD Observatory at Durg Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Avg. Temperat ure ( C) Min. Temperat ure ( C) Max. Temperat ure ( C) Avg. Temperat ure ( F) Min. Temperat ure ( F) Max Temperat ure ( F) 4 8 Precipitati on / Rainfall (mm) Review of above data presents that W and WSW are the predominant wind directions in the region. The average annual rainfall found in the range of 1204 mm at the Durg Observatory. Project region generally experiences hot and dry climatic conditions. The region receives the rain under the influence of southeast monsoons. 4.8 Available Social Infrastructure The proposed stretch has about 14 villages. There are a number of commercial and residential structures falling in the proposed stretch. The details shall be provided in the EIA report. 4.9 Forest & Wildlife Area The proposed stretch doesn t pass through any Forest area or any eco-sensitive zone of Wildlife sanctuary or national park. Page 12

17 5 PLANNING BRIEF The proposed project is in the feasibility study stage. After the completion of feasibility studies and grant of ToR the Detailed Project Report shall be completed which shall comprise of the complete planning brief of the project. The highlights of the same shall be provided in the EIA report. 6 PROPOSED INFRASTRUCTURE 6.1 Industrial Area Not applicable 6.2 Residential Area Not applicable 6.3 Green Belt Greenbelt development shall be carried out as compensatory afforestation as well as on both sides of the highway for improvement of landscape and aesthetic view of the area. It shall be made sure that the species to be chosen shall be local and no alien species shall be introduced. The area to be earmarked for greenbelt development shall be provided in the EIA report. 6.4 Social Infrastructure Bus & truck lay Bye and rest areas with toilet facilities shall be developed along the proposed Project. Location of these facilities will be finalised after consultation with stakeholders. 6.5 Connectivity The proposed project itself shall connect Rajnandgaon to Basna. It shall also connect AH 46, NH 30, SH 22, SH 7 and AH Drinking Water Management Drinking water shall be arranged from Tanker Supply and thus no permanent installation shall be required for the labourers. It is estimated that a total of approximately KL water will be required for consumption of construction workers. 6.7 Sewerage System Portable bio-toilets or septic tanks shall be provided for construction and operational workers. 6.8 Industrial Waste Management Defunct machineries or parts of the mixing plants shall be stored at designated place before selling the scrap to an approved vendor. 6.9 Solid Waste Management The solid waste generated by the workers shall be only municipal solid waste which shall be segregated at site itself by provision of coloured bins. The wastes shall be collected from there and dumped in government designated sites. Waste management shall be done as per Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 & and Construction and demolition waste Management Rules Page 13

18 In addition to the Sub-Clause of MoRTH Specifications, The Contractor shall adopt the following Mitigation Measures. Control of Soil Erosion and sedimentation (Clause 306.3) Control of Water Pollution The Contractor shall avoid construction works close to the streams or water bodies during monsoon. All precautionary measures shall be taken to prevent the wastewater that is generated during construction from entering into streams, water bodies or the irrigation channels. Oil interceptors shall be provided for vehicle parking, wash down and refuelling areas. The Contractor shall adopt the following rules and regulations for effective Control of Solid and Liquid water Management Schedule VI - General Standards for Discharge of Environmental Pollutants, CPCB The Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 and Water Act, Petroleum Act, 1934 and subsequent amendments Rules and Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 (Standards for Emission or Discharge of Environmental Pollutants Schedule I) Annexure A to Clause 501 (Protection of Environment) of MoRTH Specification Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rule 2016 Municipal Solid Waste Management Rule 2016 The Contractor is to ensure that there is good drainage at all construction areas, to avoid creation of stagnant water bodies especially in urban/industrial areas, including water in old types Power Requirement Supply & Source The power required for the project shall be kva per day. Required power will be sourced through the local distribution company of the State Electricity Board and DG sets will also be installed as power backup source. 7 REHABILITATION AND RESETTLEMENT PLAN Most of the land coming under the Project area is agricultural and built-up land. Along with this, the alignment of corridor passes through forest land, barren land, and water body area. The land required for the construction of economic corridor will be acquired by NHAI before the commencement of construction work. The identification of the private and government structures are in progress and the drafting of Rehabilitation and resettlement plan shall be commenced after the identification of structures and consultation with stakeholders. Land acquisition shall be undertaken as per the provision of LARR, 2013 and NHAI Act 1988 (with its amendments). Rehabilitation and resettlement plan will be prepared after detailed census survey during EIA Study and will be submitted in EIA Report. 8 PROJECT SCHEDULE AND COST ESTIMATES The Project shall start its construction work after fulfilment of the following activities: Page 14

19 Finalization and approval of Detailed Project Report Receipt of Environmental clearance from MoEF&CC and State Government Selection and on-boarding of Contractor for implementation works The completion period of the construction is estimated to be about 36 months. The estimated cost of the project is about INR 1383 Crores. Detailed cost break-up and Project schedule shall be discussed in the EIA report. 9 ANALYSIS OF PROPOSAL The benefits of the Project are multi-fold. It will substantially reduce the travel time between Rajnandgaon and Basna and the other remote areas falling on the alignment. In addition to the improved connectivity, it will also provide a boost to the economic status of the villages / towns falling in the dedicated Project area. Overall improvement will be expected in local area in terms of: Better connectivity to economic, social and political hubs of Chhattisgarh and Odisha Faster growth and outreach to better and improved facilities Fast and safe connectivity resulting in savings in fuel, travel time and total transportation cost Reduction in accidents Better approach to medical & educational services Faster transportation of perishable goods like fruits, vegetables, and dairy products Better opportunities for transporting, processing and marketing of agricultural products Development of local agriculture and handicrafts Development of tourism and pilgrimage Opening up of opportunities for new occupations and trade on the route Indirect and direct employment opportunity to people from all skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled streams Improved quality of life for people and so on Development of backward areas through rapid industrialization and access to distant markets Creation of ancillary ecosystem through highway amenities, support services and industrial / manufacturing areas The project shall benefit the commuters travelling between Rajnandgaon and Basna. The route shall be reduced from 126 Kms to 92.2 Kms (i.e. about 25 %). Thus, the project shall save fuel and time of commuters. The areas through which the proposed road passes is highly remote and thus the implementation of the project shall enhance connectivity of the villagers to the highly developed cities of the Chhattisgarh and Odisha. The felling of trees and structures to be affected are minimal. Page 15

20 Thus, as per the preliminary analysis and secondary data collected, the proposed project is financially, socially and environmentally feasible. Page 16