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<keyword id="12760343" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Highways-Infra-Trust" source="Orion">National Highways Infra Trust</keyword> (<keyword id="49448" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NHAI" source="Orion">NHAI</keyword> InvIT), the infrastructure investment trust sponsored by <keyword id="83263" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Highway-Authority-of-India" source="Orion">National Highway Authority of India</keyword> (NHAI) to support the Central government's <keyword id="11929270" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Monetization-Pipeline" source="Orion">National Monetization Pipeline</keyword>, has raised a sum of ₹1,430 crore from domestic and international investors through placement of its units, for part funding its acquisition of three additional road projects from NHAI. The placement of units with institutional investors, witnessed strong demand from both existing investors, who reposed their commitment by participating in the process, as well as new investors. The units have been subscribed by a gamut of institutional investors including Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board, State Bank of India, SBI Pension Fund, SBI Mutual Fund, IOCL Employee Provident Fund, L&amp;T Staff Provident Fund, Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Karamchari Pension Fund, TATA AIG and <keyword id="5050251" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="star-union-daiichi-life-insurance" source="Orion">Star Union Daiichi Life Insurance</keyword>. NHAI subscribed to the units through preferential allotment to maintain its unitholding of at least 15 per cent. The units were subscribed through a book build process at Rs 109 per unit, at a premium over floor price of Rs 107.12 per unit. In addition to the above, NHAI InvIT has also filed a prospectus with SEBI for issuance of Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) to raise Rs 1,500 crore. The NCDs would carry a coupon of 7.90 per cent payable semi-annually and would be available for subscription by both retail and institutional investors. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/recession-fears-mount-as-uk-gdp-falls-0-3-in-aug/articleshow/94823828.cms">Recession fears mount as UK GDP falls 0.3% in Aug</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/whatsapp-now-a-spam-factory-1-in-2-indian-swamped-with-promotional-messages-report/articleshow/94815568.cms">WhatsApp now a spam factory, 1 in 2 Indian swamped with promotional messages: report</a>

NHAI InvIT raises ₹1,430 crore through follow-on issuance

<keyword id="87432" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Highways-Authority-of-India">National Highways Authority of India</keyword> (NHAI) has recorded highest Rs 86.2 crore daily <keyword id="549988" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="toll-collection">toll collection</keyword> on Sunday, its Chairman Sukhbir Singh Sandhu said. The highest daily toll collection via electronic system of FASTags has also been recorded at Rs 50 crore (single day collection) in January 2020 as compared to Rs 23 crore in November 2019. "The NHAI has recorded its highest toll collection on a daily basis at Rs 86.2 crore two days back," Sandhu said at National Highways Excellence Award 2019 here on Tuesday.
 Sandhu said the daily transactions via FASTags have also risen to around 30 lakh per day in January 2020 from 8 lakh in July 2019.
 He said the Jodhpur toll plaza in Jaipur region has outperformed others in implementation of FASTags with around 91 per cent of toll collection taking place via FASTags.
 Toll plazas in Bhopal and Gandhinagar have also performed well in FASTag implementation, he added.
 As of December 2019, over 1 crore FASTags have been issued with over 30 lakh FASTags issued in November and December, following daily sales of 1.5-2 lakh FASTags.
 The government has rolled out FASTag-based electronic toll collection mechanism from December 15 cross all toll plazas of the NHAI.
 The government has mandated the use of FASTags across at least 75 per cent lanes of toll plazas and has restricted use of cash mode of payment to a maximum of 25 per cent lanes of toll plazas.
 FASTags-based toll collection system has been rolled out across over 527 national highways.

Indian highway toll booths record highest-ever daily collections

India will spend nearly Rs 143 lakh crore on infrastructure between fiscals 2024 and 2030, more than twice the Rs 67 lakh crore spent in the past seven financial years starting 2017, rating agency Crisil said on Tuesday. Of the total, Rs 36.6 lakh crore will be green investments, marking a five times rise compared with the amount spent during fiscals 2017-2023, it added. "India's infrastructure spending will double to Rs 143 lakh crore between fiscals 2024 and 2030, compared with 2017-2023," Crisil said in its Infrastructure Yearbook 2023. Crisil Ltd managing director and CEO Amish Mehta said the agency expects India's gross domestic product to grow at an average 6.7% through fiscal 2031 to be the fastest-expanding large economy. "Per capita income is seen rising from USD 2,500 now to USD 4,500 by fiscal 2031, creating a middle-income country," he said, adding that this growth will be underpinned by massive all-round infrastructure development, with sharp focus on integrating sustainability." While releasing '<keyword id="19169539" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="crisil-infrastructure-yearbook-2023" source="Orion">CRISIL Infrastructure Yearbook 2023</keyword>', which includes a unique national index CRISIL InfraInvex, Mehta said policy interventions and a conducive investment climate have aided the uptrend in the CRISIL InfraInvex scores across sectors. "Four of these -- roads and highways, power transmission, renewable energy and ports -- have an overall score of 7-plus (out of 10), which underscores the pace of reforms and developments of the past few years," he added. The rating agency noted that the next phase of infrastructure development will be marked by growth in the average ticket size of projects and a significant number of mega-scale projects. Appropriate and consistent policy and regulatory interventions and focus on timely execution build an attractive case for various stakeholders to accelerate investments across infrastructure sectors, Crisil said. The renewable push The rating agency predicted that prominent sectors such as roads and power are expected to remain major contributors, while relatively nascent ones such as <keyword id="312660" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="EVs" source="Orion">EVs</keyword>, solar, wind, and hydrogen will pick up pace. "The share of EVs in India's overall automobile sales is likely to reach 30% by 2030. "Two-wheeler EV sales are expected to outpace other segments up to 2028, while demand for EV buses will be driven by state transport undertakings," it said. According to Crisil, favourable total cost of ownership and total cost of acquisition, as well as model availability for two- and three-wheelers will support EV offtake in coming years. It said the share of renewable energy in total capacity is estimated to grow 4x between fiscals 2023 and 2030. While solar will account for half of the incremental non-fossil generation, Crisil said there is a growing need to leverage emerging technologies such as 'floatovoltaics' (floating solar), offshore wind technology and green hydrogen. Noting that the hydrogen sector is poised to attract substantial investments, estimated at Rs 1.5 lakh crore between fiscals 2024 and 2030, the rating agency said mandates for green hydrogen use and incentive schemes will be important here considering the cost of production of green hydrogen is twice that of fossil-based hydrogen. Crisil said India's first sovereign green bond issuance will pave the way for the development of the domestic bond market for green issuances. Over the past few years, global experience has shown increasing appetite for green assets among investors, leading to Indian companies seeking funds in global markets, it added.

India's infra spending to ride EV, solar, wind and hydrogen push

NEW DELHI: <keyword id="6063393" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-national-highways-authority-of-india">The National Highways Authority of India</keyword> (NHAI) on Monday said a <keyword id="108450" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="cyber-attack">cyber attack</keyword> took place on its <keyword id="3352615" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="email-server">email server</keyword> on Sunday night but prompt action resulted in no data loss. As a precaution, the Authority had shut down the server. "A ransom ware attack on NHAI email server took place yesterday night. The attack was foiled by the <keyword id="480534" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="security-system">security system</keyword> and email servers were shut down from safety point of view," NHAI Chief General Manager, IT, Akhilesh Srivastava, said. The system is restored now, Srivastava added. "No data loss took place. NHAI data lake and other systems remained unaffected from this attack," he said. The government had warned against a large-scale cyber attack against individuals and businesses earlier this month. India's cyber security nodal agency, CERT-In had issued an advisory warning that the potential <keyword id="6359049" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="phishing">phishing</keyword> attacks could impersonate government agencies, departments and trade bodies that have been tasked to oversee disbursement of government fiscal aid. The NHAI has been mandated the task to develop, maintain and manage National Highways, the arterial roads of the country, for inter-state movement of passengers and goods. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/tiktok-shareit-uc-browser-club-factory-among-59-chinese-apps-banned-by-the-indian-government/articleshow/76694483.cms">TikTok, ShareIt, UC Browser, Club Factory among 59 Chinese apps banned by the Indian government</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/tiktok-has-been-removed-from-the-google-play-store-and-the-apple-app-store/articleshow/76702533.cms">TikTok disappears from Play Store and App Store soon after India banned 59 Chinese apps</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/pm-narendra-modi-will-address-the-nation-at-4-pm-tomorrow/articleshow/76696511.cms">All eyes on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address at 4 PM today</a>

NHAI email server shut down after cyber attack

<ul><li>The cost per hectare for land acquired by NHAI has jumped to nearly ₹2.8 crore this year from ₹9 crore just before the latest land act was passed.</li><li>The cost of acquiring land makes up for a quarter of the total capital needed for highway construction.</li><li>Highway construction has more than doubled to over 10,000 kilometres a year in financial year 2019.</li><li>The higher <keyword id="8113905" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="cost-of-land">cost of land</keyword> acquisition threatens to slow down new projects as NHAI's debt has piled up.</li></ul>Roads and highways have been among the fastest growing segments in the Indian economy. The rapid pace has also driven up the cost of land acquisition and now, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) may step on the brake. The cost per hectare for land acquired by NHAI has jumped to nearly ₹2.8 crore this year from ₹9 crore just before the latest land act was passed four years ago, according to a Kotak Institutional Equities report last week. And as the cost of land increased, the amount of land acquired has fallen anywhere between 15-20% per kilometre (km) of road completed. Meanwhile, toll collection from traffic has grown half as much, at the rate of 10% every year, in the last four years. The higher cost of land, along with lack of funds and risk appetite among lenders, may slow down the pace of road construction this year, according to CARE Ratings. Annual highway construction and expansion had increased from 4,410 km in financial year ending March 2015 to 10,800 km at the end of March 2020. 
 
 
 
 
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 The laws for land acquisition mandate higher compensation to land owner-- market value of land in urban areas and up to double the market value in rural areas. In addition, a 100% solatium (additional payment) has to given to the land owner. Now, land cost makes up for over a quarter of the cost for a highway project. This has led to pile up of debt at NHAI -- to ₹1.78 lakh crore from ₹40,000 crore five years ago. The contingent liabilities-- dues that may arise out of uncertainties-- are twice as much, at about ₹3 lakh crore, according to media reports. This has <a href="https://www.livemint.com/market/mark-to-market/road-works-at-risk-as-pmo-differs-with-nhai-on-path-ahead-1567361360908.html" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">reportedly</a> led to some discomfort at the highest office in the country, that of Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>. While <keyword id="26680" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nitin-gadkari">Nitin Gadkari</keyword>, the minister of Roads and Highways, has denied any stress on the NHAI. “There is no problem. The government is giving about ₹90,000 crore ($12.8 billion) as budgetary support to NHAI. That is with us,” he told the media last week. At the bare minimum, when the cost of land escalates, it leaves lesser money on the table for construction. And that's not something private contractors like to hear. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/union-budget-2019-will-lay-1-25-lakh-kms-of-rural-roads-says-the-finance-minister/articleshow/70086042.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">India Will lay 125,000 km of rural roads says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman</a>

India's National Highways Authority is paying three times more for land-- and that may slow down new projects

New Delhi, Dec 11 () The government on Wednesday gave its nod to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to set up Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) and monetise national highway projects.
 InvITs are instruments on the pattern of mutual funds and are designed to pool small sums of money from a number of investors to invest in assets that give cash flow over a period of time.
 "The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to the proposal of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, authorising NHAI to set up InvIT as per InvIT Guidelines issued by SEBI," the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in a statement.
 This will enable NHAI to monetise completed national highways that have a toll collection track record of at least one year and NHAI reserves the right to levy toll on the identified highway, the statement said.
 InvIT as an instrument provides greater flexibility to investors and is expected to attract patient capital (for say 20-30 years) to the Indian highway market, as these investors are averse to construction risk and are interested in investment in assets which provide long-term stable returns, it said.
 It will also facilitate retail domestic savings and corpus of special institutions (such as mutual funds, PFRDA, etc.) to be invested in infrastructure sector through InvIT.
 Roads and highways are the lifeline of the economy, connecting remote and far-flung areas and ensuring efficient transportation on regional as well as pan-India basis, it said.
 Development of national highways has a multiplier effect in terms of facilitating trade and enhancing the overall economic development of a region, it added.
 In October 2017, the Centre launched Bharatmala Pariyojana, which is the flagship highway development programme of Government of India for development of 24,800 km of roads for a total investment of Rs 5,35,000 crore.
 Given the magnitude of Bharatmala program, NHAI would need adequate funds to complete the projects within the prescribed timelines, it said.
 "As a part of this exercise, a workable option is to monetise the completed and operational NH assets to unlock their value and offer attractive schemes to private players to invest in construction of national highways," the statement said.
 It stressed that using new and innovative financing vehicles has become inevitable for organisations like NHAI that have limited existing sources of funds.
 The then Finance Minister, in his Budget Speech of year 2018-19, had stated that NHAI may consider organizing its road assets into Special Purpose Vehicles and use innovative monetising structures such as Toll, Operate and Transfer model and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvlTs).
 Based on the learning and experience, NHAI has been actively working on setting up an InvIT to monetise its completed and operational national highways projects with the objective of mobilizing additional resources through capital markets.
 NHAI's InvIT will be a trust established by NHAI under the Indian Trust Act, 1882 and Securities and Exchange Board of India (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014.
 The InvIT Trust will be formed with an objective of investment, primarily in infrastructure projects (as defined by Ministry of Finance). InvIT may hold assets either directly or through an SPV or a holding. NAM RVK

Govt gives nod to NHAI to set up InvIT, monetise national highway projects

Indian airplane landing on Yamuna Expressway in 2015. Photo Credits: Times of India <ul><li>India’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will set up 13 emergency landing airstrips including 11 strips on the its <keyword id="6373156" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-highways">national highways</keyword>. </li><li>The road runway is aimed at providing faster transport services via air during <keyword id="470423" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="natural-calamities">natural calamities</keyword> that block the rail and road connectivity. </li><li>The first such strip will be set up in Gujarat on National Highway number 151.</li></ul>India’s is planning to <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/roadways/national-highways-to-have-11-emergency-airstrips-here-are-details/1386881/">set up emergency landing</a> airstrips on 11 national highways across the country. The move is aimed at easing efforts during natural calamities and emergency situations. The government has prepared a standard design for the road runway. The airstrips will span over 5-6 kilometres on a 60-metre wide concrete road. They will have parking slots for four aircraft, two gates at either ends of the strip and an Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower. The road runways are aimed at reaching out to the affected areas in the fastest possible time in case of natural calamities such as earthquakes or floods when air connectivity is the only viable option.The government plans to remove the hindrance caused by the electric poles, trees and dividers. According to the country’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the landing airstrips will cost about ₹836.6 million. The project will be managed by the Indian Air Force (IAF), India’s Ministry of Defence and its transport ministry. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/country-to-have-11-emergency-landing-air-strips-on-national-highways-mandaviya/article25538114.ece">reportedly</a> said that the first such strip will be set up in Gujarat on National Highway number 151 near Khambhaliya of Devbhumi Dwarka district. Other states to have such airstrips include West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jammu &amp; Kashmir, Rajasthan and Odisha. Mandaviya also said that the government has potentially identified 13 roads across seven states that can have emergency landing. Two of these roads fall under state control while the remaining are under the <keyword id="83263" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Highway-Authority-of-India">National Highway Authority of India</keyword> (NHAI), The Hindu <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/country-to-have-11-emergency-landing-air-strips-on-national-highways-mandaviya/article25538114.ece">reported</a>. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indian-railways-to-build-a-3000-km-safety-fence-to-guard-people-and-prevent-accidents/articleshow/66689250.cms">Indian Railways to build a 3,000 km safety fence to guard people and prevent accidents</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indian-conglomerate-tata-is-in-talks-to-buy-out-troubled-carrier-jet-airways-in-a-deal-that-could-create-one-of-the-countrys-largest-airlines/articleshow/66650918.cms">Indian conglomerate Tata is in talks to buy out troubled carrier Jet Airways in a deal that could create one of the country's largest airlines</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/emirates-airline-profits-are-down-by-86-and-things-may-not-get-better-soon/articleshow/66641941.cms">Emirates Airline profits are down by 86% and things may not get better soon</a>

India plans to build 11 emergency airstrips on its national highways

At least 20,000 km of major <keyword id="6373156" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="National-Highways">national highways</keyword> in India will be free from frequent cuts on the medians in the coming four to five years, with barricading for stray animals so that they can be prevented from coming on to the high-speed roads. Fast moving and heavy vehicles will be designated the main carriageways, which would make sure that these vehicles can run seamlessly and at high speed. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/indias-longest-road-tunnel-to-see-the-light-of-day/articleshow/57773446.cms">India's longest road tunnel to see the light of day</a> The project, which falls under the first phase of the ambitious <keyword id="4461929" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="bharatmala-scheme">Bharatmala scheme</keyword> will cost around Rs 3.85 lakh crore and would also include expansion of identified stretches to at least four lanes. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/indian-highways-to-have-malls-and-food-courts/articleshow/51305145.cms">Road trips in India will soon be the best way to travel</a> Presently, almost every type vehicles, be it fast-moving trucks or slow-moving cycle-rickshaws, can enter highways, thereby slowing down the speeds and defying the whole purpose of highways that are meant for less accidents. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/heres-how-suvs-have-driven-their-way-into-indian-roads-and-minds/articleshow/58143399.cms">Here’s how SUVs have driven their way into Indian roads and minds</a> The government has now decided to make existing highways more efficient instead of building more expensive <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/strategy/Green-fund-to-make-national-highways-greener/articleshow/51596590.cms">greenfield roads</a>, and it’s for this purpose that the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/politics/too-realistic-nitin-gadkari-wants-to-bring-davos-to-uttarakhand/articleshow/57250266.cms">road transport and highways ministry</a> has sent the proposal to upgrade the identified stretches as "access controlled" ones. Such access controlled roads limit the kind of vehicles that can ply on them. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Road-Ministry-wants-50-more-funds-in-Budget-allocation-several-plans-in-pipeline/articleshow/55937626.cms">Road Ministry wants 50% more funds in Budget allocation, several plans in pipeline</a>

Highways to be made fit for high-speed vehicles! U-turns and side entries to be barred

The ban on the sale of liquor within 500 meters of highways in the country would mean a probable loss of Rs 50000 crore for several state governments. This, because a list of prominent hotel chains, like the Taj, Oberoi, Hyatt and Accor groups will now have to stop serving alcohol to guests at their premium locations, thus denting the 
estimated revenue of state governments, which they would have earned from these hotels in form of taxes. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/The-11-best-Champagne-bars-in-the-world/articleshow/54549480.cms">The 11 best Champagne bars in the world</a> 
 
Riyaaz Amlani, president of the National Restaurant Association of India (<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/strategy/restaurant-body-fights-back-says-dont-eat-if-you-dont-want-to-pay/articleshow/56313066.cms">NRAI</a>), told ET that along with this loss to the governments, restaurants, bars and pubs will also be taking a hit of Rs 10,000-15,000 crore, and 100,000 people will be out of work. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/good-karma-or-bad-man-behind-liquor-ban-cant-find-liquor-nearby/articleshow/57985331.cms">Good karma or bad? Man behind liquor ban can’t find liquor nearby</a> 
 
However, as per a tweet by Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, the ban would impact jobs of around <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/1-million-people-to-lose-job-inindia-blame-drunken-driving-for-it/articleshow/57971679.cms">1 million people</a>. 
 
The country houses over a third of liquor outlets around national and state highways, which means that this ban would result in a deep impact on the liquor industry and state governments’ pockets. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Bihar-politics-ban-making-liquor-companies-suffer/articleshow/53767756.cms">Nitish Kumar wooed Carlsberg to set up a plant in Bihar, and then banned liquor in the state</a> 
 
In order to avoid this, some state administrations have even changed the nomenclature of state highways to district roads. 
 
(Image source New Indian Express)

Liquor ban would dent state governments’ estimated revenue by Rs 50,000 crore

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I visited Great Basin, one of the least-visited national parks in the US, for the first time.</li><li>To get there, I <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-road-trips-in-the-world-2018-7">drove six hours</a> on US 50, a highway nicknamed America's "Loneliest Road."</li></ul>Getting to Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada requires quite the journey, no matter which direction you come from.The nearest airport is over two hours away, there's no public transportation, and cell service is limited in the area.That may explain why it's one of the <a href="https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/least-visited-us-national-parks-2021/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US' least visited national parks</a>, getting a total of <a href="https://www.nps.gov/grba/learn/management/statistics.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">144,875 visitors in 2021</a>. However, there are plenty of reasons to head to this remote park.My family <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-states-to-visit-in-winter-season-us">went in the winter</a> and loved our time there so much that we're planning on heading back next summer. Here are some of the many reasons we found the trip worth it.<h2>To reach the park, we drove six hours on America's 'Loneliest Road,' which ended up being an experience in itself</h2><div type="image" title="view of highway 50 in nevada with mountains in the background" height="1200" width="1600" msid="97505601" hostid="261"></div>Our journey to Great Basin involved a long drive east on US 50, a highway we picked up in Lake Tahoe and followed for six hours to Ely, the Nevada town where we based ourselves. We quickly realized why this portion of US 50 is nicknamed America's "Loneliest Road," a moniker that <a href="https://nevadamagazine.com/issue/january-february-2016/3146/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dates back to a 1986 Life article</a> that warned travelers to avoid the highway unless they were confident in their survival skills.There were long stretches, some lasting up to an hour, when we didn't see any signs of human life. Some people might think this drive sounds boring or a little scary, but what it lacks in human population, it <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-road-trips-in-the-world-2018-7">makes up for in stunning scenery</a> like <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-mountains-in-the-world-2018-4">snowcapped mountains</a>.It's worth mapping out your points of interest ahead of time. We stopped at a couple of scenic areas along the way. Amenities are few and far between on the way to the park, so people should <a href="https://www.insider.com/road-trip-money-saving-hacks-2018-11">go into the trip with food, water, and a plan for getting gas</a>.My family packed the same gear we would on any <a href="https://www.insider.com/living-out-of-car-travel-on-road-2019-12">cold-weather road trip</a>: a snow shovel, good tires, blankets, and plenty of food and water. Luckily, we didn't have to put our survival skills to the test.<h2>Even though the park is isolated, the small towns surrounding it are fascinating to visit</h2>Great Basin is isolated, but there are several interesting small towns in the same vicinity as the park. If you want a glimpse into the historic West, the small towns in this area of Nevada have a lot to offer. Baker has a <a href="https://travelnevada.com/cities/baker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">population of around 40 people</a>, a general store, and a handful of restaurants, though just one of them was open during our winter visit since hours vary by season.Along US 50, Austin, a town with a population of around 100, offers one of the very few stops for refreshments and gas. The historic mining town is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise, with popular activities like cross-country skiing, mountain biking, and <a href="https://www.insider.com/hikes-around-the-world-2019-3">hiking</a>.There's also Ely, which is at the eastern edge of US 50, about an hour from the park. Founded as a stagecoach stop, the town has a population of around 4,000, which is bustling compared to most of the other towns. We visited the <a href="https://wpmuseum.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">White Pine Public Museum</a>, which features a historic jail cell, schoolhouse, and other artifacts. <h2>Many of Great Basin's hiking trails stay open in the winter and offer gorgeous views</h2><div type="image" title="snow in great basin national park nevada hiking trail" height="1200" width="1600" msid="97505604" hostid="261"></div>Great Basin offers many <a href="https://www.nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/hiking-information.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hiking trails</a>, with difficulty levels ranging from easy to strenuous. Many remain open throughout winter, but visitors should be prepared to hike through several feet of snow. We brought our snowshoes and opted for the <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/nevada/baker-creek-loop">Baker Creek Loop</a>, an easy 3.3-mile trail that was manageable for my 8-year-old. Though it wasn't the park's most scenic hike, the meadows, forest, and creek areas looked beautiful in the snow.Wheeler Peak, a <a href="https://www.insider.com/hiking-trails-worth-traveling-for-2018-3">more adventurous hike</a>, is on our list for next time. The 8.6-mile trail can be treacherous in the winter but promises stunning views from the Wheeler Peak summit. We plan to tackle this trail in the summer and also look out for the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/identifying-bristlecone-pines.htm">ancient bristlecones pines</a> that the park is known for.<h2>The tour of the Lehman Caves provides an up-close look at formations created over 500 million years ago</h2>Our tour of the Lehman Caves, <a href="http://npshistory.com/brochures/grba/caves.pdf">limestone-solution caverns</a> that formed over 500 million years ago, was a highlight of our Great Basin visit. I made reservations, which are available up to 30 days ahead of time and are an absolute must for visitors. On the day of our tour, several people without reservations showed up at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center and were disappointed to find that the day's tours were all sold out.A ranger taught us about formations including stalactites, stalagmites, cave bacon, and cave popcorn.<div type="image" title="stalactites and stalagmites in Lehman Caves nevada" height="1200" width="1600" msid="97505607" hostid="261"></div>There's evidence of human ventures into the cave from expeditions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, too. Initials and messages burned with candle smoke are now protected artifacts. Fortunately, there are plenty of untouched parts of the caves that fall under park protection.The caves are also home to a handful of <a href="https://www.nps.gov/grba/learn/nature/endemic-animals.htm">endemic species</a>, like the <a href="http://npshistory.com/publications/grba/cave-life.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Great Basin Cave Pseudoscorpion</a> we spotted during our tour. While exploring the Lehman Caves, you should <a href="https://www.nps.gov/articles/white-nose-syndrome-faqs.htm#:~:text=Do%20I%20need%20to%20decontaminate,to%20a%20cave%20or%20mine.">never wear clothing or footwear</a> that you've worn into any other caves. This is to protect the bat population from <a href="https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/">white-nose syndrome</a>, a fungal disease that infects the skin of hibernating bats' muzzles, ears, and wings.<h2>The park has top-notch ranger programs for visitors of all ages</h2>Like most national parks, Great Basin offers some brilliant ranger programs. During our visit, the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/junior-ranger-programs.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Junior Ranger Program</a> was a priority for my 8-year-old, who loved working through the educational booklet, getting sworn in as a junior ranger, and adding another badge to her collection. The program offers a variety of activities that get kids engaged in the park and help them develop an appreciation for it. My child was especially interested in learning about wildlife and spent a lot of her time trying to track down species, both large and small.Great Basin is also known for its ranger-led astronomy programs. None were available during our visit, but it's another activity we want to do when we return.<h2>Pictographs and petroglyphs give travelers a glance into the area's history</h2><div type="image" title="The Hickison Petroglyphs" height="1200" width="1600" msid="97505609" hostid="261"></div>In Great Basin, the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/grba/learn/historyculture/upper-pictograph-cave.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upper Pictograph Cave</a> has pictographs painted on its walls and petroglyphs cut into its surfaces that <a href="https://www.nps.gov/grba/learn/historyculture/upper-pictograph-cave.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">experts believe Fremont Indians</a><a href="https://www.nps.gov/grba/learn/historyculture/upper-pictograph-cave.htm"> created</a> around 1,000 to 1,300 BCE. You can see this art from outside the cave, which is a short distance from the Lehman Caves Visitor Center.The <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=hickison+petroglyphs&amp;oq=Hickison+Petroglyphs&amp;aqs=chrome.0.0i355i512j46i175i199i512j0i22i30l2.488j0j4&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">Hickison Petroglyphs</a> also offer a fascinating stop along US 50. Located a few miles east of Austin, Nevada, the area is free to visit and offers hiking trails and <a href="https://www.insider.com/things-to-watch-out-for-when-camping-2019-5">camping spots</a> on a first-come, first-served basis.The petroglyphs are <a href="https://travelnevada.com/indian-culture/hickison-petroglyph-recreation-area/">around 10,000 years old</a>, dating back to when the Western Shoshone lived in the area. We stopped for a couple of hours to hike and admire the petroglyphs, and I recommend doing the same to break up the long drive.<h2>Great Basin has night skies that are nothing short of spectacular</h2>Because of its geography and relative isolation, Great Basin has a lack of surrounding light pollution. The result is a pristine night environment with some of the <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-place-to-stargaze-us-2018-7">best sky-watching</a> in the country. The park was<a href="https://www.nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/great-basin-night-sky.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> designated an International Dark Sky Park</a> in 2016. During our visit, we hung out after dark using our own night-sky apps and books. However, the ranger-led astronomy programs are legendary here. There's even a <a href="https://nnry.com/pages/StarTrain.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Star Train</a> that runs from Ely to Great Basin around sunset during the spring and summer. We're planning on coming back to ride it and take photos of the sky.Every September, Great Basin hosts its <a href="https://www.nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/great-basin-astronomy-festival.htm#:~:text=format%20is%20confirmed.-,The%20Astronomy%20Festival%20will%20be%20on%20September%2022nd%20%2D%2024th%2C%202022,view%20the%20night%20skies%20together." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Astronomy Festival</a>, with activities including <a href="https://www.nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/great-basin-astronomy-festival.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Art in the Dark and Constellation Talks</a>. It's another attraction that we hope to experience on a future visit.

I went to Great Basin, one of the least-visited national parks in the US. Here's why it was worth the trip.

(Photo Source: TravelTriangle) <ul><li>The Delhi-Mumbai expressway which recently got underway is being planned in a way that is expected to cut the tiger passage between India’s Ranthambore National Park (RNP) and Ramgarh Vidyashri Tiger Sanctuary that may disturb the natural surroundings to tigers. </li><li>The expressway, which is planned to be 1,250 km long, as National <keyword id="6354768" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Highway">Highway</keyword> Authority of India (NHAI) has given its consent to build six lane road from Western Peripheral Expressway (WPE), will now extend up to ring road near DND flyway. </li><li> It will trim the road-distance to Mumbai to 12 hours, which currently takes 24-48 hours. </li><li>The project, which has been approved under the Bharatmala programme, will be completely funded by NHAI and is expected to cost nearly ₹600 billion.</li></ul>The Delhi-Mumbai expressway which recently got underway in December, is being planned in a way that is expected to cut the tiger passage between Ranthambore National Park (RNP) and Ramgarh Vidyashri Tiger Sanctuary, a move that may <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/proposed-delhi-mumbai-expressway-faces-rajasthan-tiger-habitat-hurdle/articleshow/67224179.cms">disturb the natural surroundings to tigers</a>. According to experts, this passage should be kept undisturbed so as to allow movement of cats along the corridor, which may be compromised once the expressway is functional. The expressway has now been given greenlight by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to build six lane road from Western Peripheral Expressway (WPE) and is <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/mumbai-e-way-to-come-into-delhi-manesar-to-get-closer/articleshow/67249427.cms">planned to extend</a> up to ring road near DND flyway. Originally, the expressway is planned to be 1,250 km long, which is aimed to provide a smooth route to commuters that can run vehicles at a speed of 120 km per hour, will be a <a href="https://www.mumbailive.com/en/transport/delhi-mumbai-express-work-on-fast-track-land-acquisition-on-progress-30856">signal-free </a>one. The expressway is expected to be an alternative fast-track route to Manesar in Haryana from from east and South Delhi, easing local traffic congestion. It will <a href="http://v">trim the road-distance</a> to Mumbai to 12 hours, which currently takes 24-48 hours. The six-lane road stretching over 59 kms has been planned to diverge into four sections including the first patch of 7.3 km from DND flyway over river Yamuna. The expressway is expected to bring a huge relief to commuters from residents of National Capital Region. The project will have 13 flyovers, two rail-bridges and nearly 10 minor bridges. The project, which has been approved under the Bharatmala programme, will be completely funded by NHAI and is expected to accept bids by August next year, Times of India reported. Overall, the project is expected to cost nearly <a href="https://www.mumbailive.com/en/transport/delhi-mumbai-express-work-on-fast-track-land-acquisition-on-progress-30856">₹600 billion</a> from Delhi making way to Maharashtra via Haryana , Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-longest-railroad-bridge-has-the-capacity-to-land-fighter-jets-and-battle-tanks/articleshow/67251655.cms">India’s longest railroad bridge has the capacity to land fighter jets and battle tanks</a> <a href="http://v">India plans to build 11 emergency airstrips on its national highways</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/the-indian-capitals-new-eiffel-tower-is-supposed-to-a-be-structure-that-says-namaste/articleshow/66510509.cms">The Indian capital’s new ‘Eiffel Tower’ is supposed to a be structure that says ‘Namaste’</a>

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