Year End Recap of MoRTH

• Context (PIB): Year End Review 2023- Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) was released.

Bharatmala Pariyojana

• The primary focus is optimising the efficiency of moving goods and people across the country.
• The Pariyojana emphasised a “corridor-based National Highway development” to ensure infrastructure symmetry and consistent road user experience.
• Phase I, approved in October 2017, focuses on bridging critical infrastructure gaps by developing 34,800 km of National Highways.
• Key components: Economic corridor development, Inter-corridor and feeder routes development, National corridor efficiency Improvement, Border and International Connectivity Roads, Coastal and Port Connectivity Roads and Expressways are critical components of the scheme.
• 35 Multimodal Logistics Parks will be developed as part of Bharatmala Pariyojana.

Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) MMLP is a transportation hub integrating different modes of transport at one location to enable efficient freight transport. India’s first International MMLP is being constructed in Jogighopa, Assam.

“RajmargYatra” and “NHAI One”

• “RajmargYatra“ is a citizen-centric Mobile Application with an in-built complaint redressal system.
• “NHAI One” is a mobile app facilitating the execution of National Highway Projects.

Bharat series (BH-series) of vehicle registration

• This has come into force with effect from 2021.
• It has been incorporated in the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
• It is voluntary to Defense personnel, Central Government/ State Government/ Central/ State Public Sector Undertakings employees and private sector companies/organisations with offices in four or more States/Union territories.

Implementing Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 is under the purview of the State Governments/UT administration, though the act is central.

Real Driving Emission (RDE)

• A gap is observed in the vehicle’s emission performance in laboratory testing and actual driving conditions.
• It was first introduced in Europe, and now India has also introduced RDE regulations along with Bharat Stage IV norms.