State PCS - Haryana (HCS)

• 10 Apr 2025

Approval for Zirakpur Bypass

Why in News? 

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the construction of a six-lane Zirakpur bypass at a capital cost of Rs 1,878.31 crore.  

• The project aims to ease congestion in cities like Zirakpur and Panchkula by redirecting traffic bound for Himachal Pradesh. 

 Key Points 

• Route and Specifications:  
  • The six-lane Zirakpur bypass will start from the Zirakpur–Patiala junction on NH-7 and end at the Zirakpur–Parwanoo junction on NH-5. 
  • The bypass will cover a total length of 19.2 km, passing through Punjab and Haryana. 
  • The project will be developed using the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) as part of the National Highway (Original) [NH(O)] programme. 
• Strategic Importance under PM GatiShakti: 
  • The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways described the project as a key step in building integrated transport infrastructure. 
  • It aligns with the objectives of the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, which seeks to synchronise infrastructure planning and boost multi-modal connectivity. 

 PM GatiShakti National Master Plan 

• The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, launched in October 2021 is a transformative Rs. 100 lakh crore initiative aimed at revolutionising India’s infrastructure over the next five years.   
• It has been developed as a Digital Master Planning tool by BISAG-N (Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics).  
  • It has been prepared in a dynamic Geographic Information System (GIS) platform wherein data on specific action plans of all the Ministries/Departments have been incorporated within a comprehensive database.  
• The plan seeks to accelerate project completion, reduce timelines, and enhance India’s global competitiveness by breaking down inter-ministerial obstacles.  
• The vision of PM GatiShakti is to create a world-class infrastructure that improves the ease of living, boosts economic growth and makes Indian businesses more competitive. 

  

Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM)  

• It is a mix of EPC and BOT-Annuity models. As per the design, the government will contribute 40% of the project cost in the first five years through annual payments (annuity).   
• The remaining payment will be made on the basis of the assets created and the performance of the developer.

Mining Activities Prohibited in Aravalli

Why in News? 

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a show-cause notice to the Haryana Government and the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change over alleged mining on protected Aravalli forest land.  

• It also directed the state to halt all mining and stone-crushing activities until 7th August 2025. 

 Key Points 

• About the Issue: 
  • It was alleged that the Haryana Government auctioned 25% of 506.33 acres of notified protected forest land to stone crushing units. 
    • This land had been declared a protected forest as part of compensatory afforestation for the Great Nicobar Island project. 
  • The case highlights potential violations of the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 and questions the legality of the auction process. 
  • Petitioners and environmentalists pointed out that mining and stone crushing have severely impacted the local water table, flora, and fauna. 
    • They also stressed that while the country is losing dense forests in Great Nicobar, the ‘Nicobar swap’ land meant to restore the Aravallis is being sabotaged by illegal mining. 
  • About Aravallis: 
    • The Aravalli Range extends from Gujarat to Delhi through Rajasthan, 692 km in length and varies between 10 to 120 km in width. 
      • The range acts as a natural green wall, with 80% located in Rajasthan and 20% in Haryana, Delhi, and Gujarat. 
    • The Aravalli mountains are divided into two main ranges – the Sambhar Sirohi Range and the Sambhar Khetri Range in Rajasthan, where their extension is about 560 km. 
    • It serves as an ecotone between the Thar Desert and the Gangetic Plain. 
      • Ecotones are areas where two or more ecosystems, biological communities, or biotic regions meet. 
    • Gurusikhar (Rajasthan), the highest peak in the range, reaches an elevation of 1,722 meters. 

 Great Nicobar Island Project 

• The Great Nicobar Island (GNI) project, launched in 2021, is a mega project to be implemented at the southern end of the Andaman and Nicobar islands. 
• It involves developing a trans-shipment port, an international airport, township development, and a 450 MVA gas and solar-based power plant on the island. 
• The project was implemented after a report by NITI Aayog which identified the potential to utilise the advantageous position of the island, which is approximately equidistant from Colombo in Sri Lanka to the southwest and Port Klang (Malaysia) and Singapore to the southeast.