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Introduction:
Improving and expanding physical infrastructure is a must for sustaining economic and social development. Improved quality & service coverage in transport, water supply and sewerage treatment & power supply are vital for Indian economy and the livelihood of its people.
The task for building the infrastructure of the nation requires innovative approaches and an understanding of methods used in other developed countries would help in having a broader horizon for Indian professionals. Therefore, a study tour of Europeans countries, having developed infrastructure, has been planned by CIDC.
England
The London Development Agency (LDA) plays a vital, region-wide role in helping to shape the capital’s design, development and environment and ensure that new developments are appropriate, high-quality, sustainable and deliver opportunities that benefit all of London’s communities.
An entirely new utilities infrastructure is being installed in the Olympic Park to meet the long-term needs of the Lower Lea Valley communities and the demands of the London 2012 Games. This infrastructure includes an Energy Centre, Primary Substation and Pumping Station. New roads and bridges are also being built to better connect the Park to the surrounding area, both during and after the Games.
Netherlands
The Netherlands has an excellent infrastructure of ports, airports, and roadways. It also has a highly developed tele-communications system. Since the Netherlands is one of the main points of entry for goods imported into Europe, it is very important for the nation to maintain its transport system in order to move products into the interior of the continent. A high-speed rail link between Amsterdam and Brussels. There are a special rail system to connect Rotterdam and areas of Germany.
ROTTERDAM port can accommodate the largest of ships and now Rotterdam is the largest port in the world, handling some 350 million tonnes of goods a year, with more than half of all goods heading into Europe passing through it.
In order to pay for current and future projects, the government established a special infrastructure fund. This fund is designed to provide supplemental money for infrastructure works without having too great an impact on the national budget. The fund is made up of proceeds from the sale of natural gas and any surplus tax funds. There are also plans to gain additional revenues by building toll roads and special pay lanes.
Transportation is also aided by an extensive network of waterways and canals. In order to provide energy resources throughout the country, the Netherlands has a well-developed pipeline system. Hydroelectric plants and
solar energy also provide part of the nation's energy needs. By 2020, the government plans to have solar energy account for 10 percent of energy consumption In theory, the Netherlands could supply all of its energy needs through solar power. It would need 800 km2. of surface for solar panels. This area is already available on the roof surfaces of houses and buildings.
Germany
Germany has one of the world's most developed transportation and communication infrastructures. A dense and efficient network of motorways, railways, and waterways connects the country with major centres and the world.
Marine transport is also developed, with major ports on the Baltic Sea. The most important port for Germany, however, is Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
Austria
Austria has an excellent network of transportation and communication; due to its strategic location and relative political neutrality. Austria is also anticipating the increasing importance of its transport sector as an essential European communications hub. A factor of the growing importance of the transportation web is the growing European energy transit network (the transport of oil, natural gas and electricity), much of it passing through Austria. A distinctive feature of the Austrian energy sector is its diversified sources of supply. The renewable resources share in Austria's energy supply is approximately 30%. Nuclear power is legally banned.
A landlocked and mountainous country, Austria depends on roads and rail passage for a major share of its foreign trade. Inland waterways carry approximately one-fifth of the country's total trade. In terms of air connection, Austria has 55 civil airports, 20 with paved runways. The main international airport is Schwechat located in southeast Vienna.
Italy
Italy has an efficient and modern infrastructure. The whole peninsula is well connected through an extensive system of railways, expressways, national roads, airports and seaports. Most of the infrastructure was rebuilt after the ravages of World War II and is subject to constant improvement and upkeep.
Italy has a number of important international airports. Seaports used to be a key element of the Italian transport system. Italy is a major power in container shipping in the Mediterranean. The country also has 1,500 miles of waterways that are used for commercial purposes.
Since most goods in Italy are transported by road, the system is constantly upgraded and improved. It provides a highly developed and efficient network of interconnected highways and lesser roads, particularly in northern regions. Links to the rest of Europe are excellent.
The country's rail system is also highly developed and traverses a distance of 19,394 km. Italian passenger trains are generally punctual, comfortable, and economical compared to the rest of Europe.
Switzerland
Switzerland has a dense and efficient rail network and an extensive high-class road system with many tunnels, to compensate for the mountainous terrain. There are two large international airports (at Zürich and Geneva) and a few smaller airports with international connections. Landlocked Switzerland also has a modern marine network, and carries out river cargo services with connections to the North Sea via the Rhine river.
The port of Basel on the Rhine is a major trading hub with efficient connections between rail, road, and water routes.
Switzerland has large resources of hydroelectric power in the mighty alpine rivers flowing down from glaciers; they are almost fully exploited. Conventional thermal plants, burning fossil fuels, contributed for only 3 percent of the electricity.
France
France enjoys one of the most sophisticated infrastructures in the world; a network of various modes of transportation blankets the whole country, including air, land, and rail transportation. Transportation is also possible via rivers. The technologically advanced rail system— utilizing some of the fastest trains in the world—is operated by the French National Railways (SNCF).
The biggest source of electrical power is nuclear energy, which supplies about 76 percent of the country's needs and making France the second largest supplier of nuclear energy after the United States. The next largest source of electrical power is hydroelectric, which supplies about 13 percent. Additionally, a tidal power plant is located on the Rance River in Brittany.
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