Cabinet favours tolls based on traffic density
The Union Cabinet has turned down a Surface Transport Ministry proposal for levying uniform toll on users of improved four-lane national highways in the country. It has also refused to accept the Transport Ministry plea to increase the tax concession period from 12 to 20 years. The Cabinet has asked the ministry to instead come up with a fresh proposal which pegs the tolls on the basis of heavy and low traffic density roads. The Cabinet was of the opinion that ideally, tolls ought to be lower for heavy density routes while the rates could be kept high for highway sectors with less traffic.
With the tenure of the sixth bipartite wage settlement for the banking industry due to expire in October 1997, all the major centred trade unions of bank employees have finalised their charters of demand. Indian National Bank Employees’ Federation, National Confederation of Bank Employees and Bank Employees’ Federation of India have already submitted their charters of demand to the Indian Banks’ Association. All India Bank Employees’ Association is to submit its charter shortly!
New CEA guidelines may hit IPPs
Independent power producers in the country are likely to be hit by the new norms fixed by the Central Electricity Authority with regard to parameters such as plant load factor, heat rate and auxiliary energy consumption for diesel engine generating stations and steam generators, turbines and generating stations. According to industry sources, the CEA has specified more stringent norms for these parameters besides fixing the operation and maintenance expenses.