Other Infrastructure Study

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  • Publication
    Reforming the Indian Ports Sector
    (Washington, DC, 2013-06) World Bank
    Maritime transport carries more than nine-tenths of tonnage of world international trade. The international shipping industry, competitive and dominated by private companies, has delivered to trading nations increasing capacity, generally improving service levels, and declining unit shipping costs. To access and extract the maximum benefit from this vital transport resource each nation depends on the performance of its ports sector; not only on the capacity, quality and price of port services but also their connectivity to hinterlands and to the industrial and consumer markets they serve. Ports in India, as in many countries, face continued pressure to handle higher throughput, adapt to larger and more specialized vessels, improve productivity, and adopt new technology and information systems that can meet the increasingly demanding service standards expected by shippers, logistics companies and shipping operators. As in all economic sectors, the success of ports depends not only on investment in its infrastructure but on supportive policy and regulatory structures, and on the effectiveness of the institutions that deliver services to customers. This Report contains an analysis of the current status of India s ports sector, identifies potential constraints on the ability of ports to meet India s future development needs, and sets out a recommended policy framework to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the sector.
  • Publication
    Regulation of the Indian Port Sector
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2011-05) van Krimpen, Christiaan
    This report sets out various options for regulatory reform of the Indian port sector. The terms of reference from The World Bank require the Author making recommendations to the Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs) with respect to alternative institutional and legal options for regulation of the port sector in India as well as analysing key considerations in the regulation of this sector and the way they are being addressed in the Indian Ports (Consolidated) Act, 2010, which has been drafted recently. This report is solution-oriented and focuses on day-to-day problems of Indian port management. The problems of the Indian ports (including those of tariff regulation by TAMP) are well known, thoroughly analysed, described in detail and widely discussed in the port sector. A final solution for the restructuring of the sector has not yet been found. This report is written with a view to outlining various alternatives which may help the competent authorities to make final decisions on a new/revised port sector regulatory framework.
  • Publication
    Land Acquisition in Afghanistan : A Report
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2007-06) McAuslan, Patrick
    The purpose of this report is to review and assess Afghanistan's legal framework regulating social safeguards (national and local laws, regulations, procedures and policies) with special reference to the law and practice of compulsory land acquisition, or expropriation. The overall objective of the report is to consider how Afghanistan's legal framework would address social safeguard issues in upcoming World Bank projects which are likely to involve land acquisition and resettlement of those persons whose land is to be acquired in connection with project implementation. The report will consist of a narrative of the context within which the assessment will be conducted and the assessment which will in both narrative and tabular form. Afghanistan is embarking upon a massive programme of public works to improve and upgrade the infrastructure of the country: better roads, clean water; more schools and hospitals in both rural and urban areas are needed to provide a better life for all Afghans. The World Bank is committed to providing assistance towards the realization of this programme. Much of these public works will involve the acquisition of land on which people are at present living and obtaining a livelihood from. It is important to stress at the outset of this report that far from the object of the report being to impede or prevent these necessary public works, the aim of the report and any consequential changes in the law which might result from its proposals are designed to facilitate those public works by providing for a clear and fair system of land acquisition, compensation and resettlement for those people who will be required to leave their homes and land for the greater public good in order that the public works can be carried out. Where people are satisfied that they have been treated fairly, they will be more likely to co-operate in being moved from their homes and this will facilitate the execution of the public works.
  • Publication
    Pakistan : Infrastructure Implementation Capacity Assessment
    (Washington, DC, 2007) World Bank
    This assessment of the Pakistan Infrastructure Implementation Capacity (PIICA) which was carried out at the request of the GoP validates the view that the Government of Pakistan (GoP) plans to more than triple the infrastructure Public Sector Development Program (PSDP), but remains apprehensive about the capacity to implement such programs. In order to understand and address the issues which typically prevail in the industry, extensive analytical work, assembled around four broad based thematic areas - business environment, human resources, materials, equipment and machinery - was undertaken. The report concludes that the industry stakeholders lack capacity to deliver the planned medium term development framework (MTDF) infrastructure. The study has identified areas in which the GoP needs to carry out further work, detailed assessments and research such as: Rationalizing construction related taxes and tariff structures; Create a best practices project specific delivery organization (GoP could use Diamer or Bhasha Dam as an example) using an integrated construction process; Centralizing data on HR availability and future demand for better planning and management; Streamlining and facilitating import of construction equipment; Studying procedures to assist in improving cash flows on projects; Researching and adopting best practices for technical support, financing and credit facilities for the industry; and Institutional arrangements to provide long-term sustainable development of the industry.
  • Publication
    India : Road Transport Service Efficiency Study
    (Washington, DC, 2005-11) World Bank
    This study reviews the long-distance road transport industry in India, in order to identify inefficiencies that could reduce the benefits to be derived from the large investments now being made by the Government in the nation's highway infrastructure. It has been undertaken to assess the present policy regime, and identify measures which may be considered to improve the functioning of road transport, in particular long-distance road transport, and, enhance its already enormous contribution (3.9 percent of GDP) to the workings of the Indian economy. While the road transport sector encompasses a wide variety of activities, this study has focused on three aspects which were considered the most relevant to the investments in highway infrastructure - the trucking industry, inter-city buses, and in view of its very important, but largely unfulfilled role in enhancing road safety, the motor insurance industry. The key findings and recommendations of the study are summarized below. India has achieved a highly competitive, low-cost road freight transport industry for basic services, with highway freight rates among the lowest in the world. In fact, trucking freight rates are so low that the industry is suffering an intense period of low profits, or rather, even losses. In this context, actions by the Government that increase costs, or reduce the efficiency of operators, will soon find their way into higher freight rates. Introduction of tractor-trailer, multi-axle vehicles would reduce not only transport costs, but also road damage caused by the higher axle-loadings of 2- and 3-axle rigid trucks, and, incentives proposed for introduction of multi-axle trucks include reduced tax and highway toll rates. Regarding inter-city bus services, the private sector has won back a rapidly increasing share of the inter-city road passenger market, and now about 80 percent of the bus fleet is privately operated. The report stipulates the appropriate focus of regulatory policy, in the case of road passenger transport, should be qualitative standards related to the safety of services, and the minimization of negative environmental impacts. As per the motor insurance industry, removing tariff controls and allowing a free market to develop will enable the industry to turn into a viable business, to invest in the kinds of enhancements needed, e.g., a system to maintain, and access driver records in order to properly assess risk, and charge premiums that reflect the risk profile of individual drivers.
  • Publication
    Bhutan : Transport Sector Note
    (Washington, DC, 2004-08-16) World Bank
    Landlocked Bhutan faces unique challenges, and opportunities as it pursues the development of its transport sector into the 21st century. Bhutan's population growth rate is high, rural-urban migration is accelerating, and, fueled by sustained economic growth, the country is urbanizing rapidly, giving rise to an expanding urban middle class, with rising expectations of well-paid employment, accessible services, and consumption potential. However, accessibility to a large measure depends on availability of reliable, and affordable transportation. Poor rural access is synonymous with rural isolation, and poverty, while high external and domestic transport costs constrain the country's economic and social development. Transportation poses a considerable cost disadvantage to business and commercial undertakings; road transport is slow and regularly disrupted by landslides and flooding; air transport is costly and erratic. Costly transport is a major factor constraining the development of tourism, horticultural exports, and agro-processing and wood-based industries. Sector issues discussed in this report emerge from a detailed assessment of the transport system, and an analysis of public expenditures. It discusses the strategy for improving rural accessibility, and the central role of roads, and motorized transport for integrating remote regions and communities into the national economy; access to regional and global markets, to include technical support for development, operation, and management of transport logistics, establishment of a dry port in Phuentsholing with reefer storage facilities, and, internationally competitive Druk air cargo rates, especially for exports of perishable, and high value agricultural products; transport sector planning and coordination, which includes specific policy, planning, and investment recommendations for roads, air transport, urban transport, and road transport services. It is recommended to consider recasting the proposed Transport Master Plan as a National Transport Strategy and Policy Review to identify and analyze emerging challenges, and constraints in the transport sector; recommend appropriate strategies, and policies to address these concerns; and, prepare an implementation plan for sector modernization, including policy and institutional reforms.
  • Publication
    Sri Lanka - Toward an Urban Transport Strategy for Colombo : A Technical Note
    (Washington, DC, 2001-01) World Bank
    The objective of this paper is to serve as an input into the on-going discussions concerning sectoral and cross-sectoral aspects of the strategy. Following this introduction, the second chapter provides a brief background on the region, its people, economy and the transport system. This is needed given that some readers on the Bank side will not be familiar with Colombo. The third chapter reviews the performance of the regional transport system from the point of view of its various users, and attempts to explain the findings in terms of underlying problems and issues. The fourth chapter presents, in summary form, the strategic proposals currently on the table. The fifth chapter provides a critical review of the proposals. The sixth and final chapter reviews the past involvement of the Bank in this sector, then identifies and discusses options that could be considered for future assistance, if the sector emerges as a joint CAS priority. An attempt has been made to shed a stronger light on people concerns, in addition to a traditional focus on transport regulation, infrastructure investments and traffic management. As an explicit sign of this, boxes with real-life travel stories of persons from the CMR have been sprinkled throughout the text.