Infrastructure Vision India @2047

Urban infrastructure and railways may receive more than 70% of the total Rs 835-870 lakh crore to be invested for infrastructure augmentation (over the next 25 years). This was reflected in an estimate prepared by various ministries for the document titled “Infrastructure Vision @India 2047”.

Background –

• The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is working on a blueprint for India@2047, a vision plan to make the country one of the world’s top three economies and bring it closer to developed nation status by the 100th year of its independence.
• A Sectoral Group of Secretaries (SGoS) with top officials and experts (from within and outside government) from 10 sectors has been directed to finalise and present the plan at the earliest.
• The plan – Vision@2047, which is expected to be finalised soon, will set specific targets for different economic sectors.
• The key sectors identified so far include agriculture, commerce and industry, infrastructure and urban landscape, security and defence, technology and governance.

What are the suggestions?

• Freeing up India’s defence acquisitions from foreign reliance and a road map for ‘India’s place in the world in 2047’.
• On the industry front, restructuring and merger of public sector banks, as well as the formation of 3 or 4 large banks.
  • • Similarly, creating 3 or 4 global champions in each sector, including the oil and gas sector, through mergers or restructuring of companies, developing semiconductor complexes, and making India a hub and leader in green technology and skilling.
• On the social sector front, it is proposed to develop India into a skill capital and bring at least 10 Indian institutions among the top 100 in the world.
• A ‘new age agriculture‘ plan proposes micro irrigation and organic farming, a flagship scheme for hilly regions, positioning India as a top exporter in identified streams.
• Development of urban infrastructure and “future-ready” urban spaces is a major focus, as is ensuring access to the best facilities in rural areas. India must do so in addition to decarbonisation in order to be ready for the new era.
• To accomplish the above targets, a governance overhaul is required, which will include —
  • • Re-engineering government processes,
    • Bringing institutional expertise into government and
    • Eliminating unnecessary government interference in citizens’ lives.

Details –

• Infrastructure Vision @India 2047 —
  • • The document, which was presented at a recent meeting chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, has set targets to expand urban and railway infrastructure.
    • According to the estimates, more than 70% of the total Rs 835-870 lakh crore (Rs 480-490 lakh crore for urban infrastructure and the second maximum investment of Rs 135-145 lakh crore for railways) to be invested for infrastructure augmentation over the next 25 years.
• Railway infrastructure —
  • • While one major thrust of the blueprint is to reduce logistics costs while increasing cargo speed and handling, the plan has set “aspirational” targets of –
      • Reducing commuter waiting time;
      • Ensuring 60% of intercity rail passengers use high and semi-high-speed trains and
      • Railways to meet its own revenue.
    • The plan also envisages developing seven Hyperloop lines, including two for cargo transport and increasing the average speed of intercity transport by 2-3 times (from the current average speed ~24 kmph).
    • Similarly, the railway share in freight transport has been targeted at 40 to 45% by 2030, up from the current share of 28%.
• Urban infrastructure —
  • • The plan envisages that people living in urban areas should have access to multimodal transit in less than 10 minutes’ walk from home.
    • There is a big thrust on increasing the effective speed of public transport as well.
    • The provision for tri-modal connectivity (road, rail and mass transport) has been envisaged in all cities with over five lakh population.
• Other transport infrastructure —
  • • Similarly, the vision document states that the government will implement barrier-free movement initiatives such as GPS-based tolling, dynamic toll rates, and digital clearances to allow Indian trucks to travel 700-750 kms per day (up from the current 250-400 kms).
    • The document focuses on reducing the average turnaround time (TAT is a metric used to assess the efficiency of port operations) of container vessels in Indian ports from 26 hours to 20 hours.
    • The plan for the aviation sector includes the development of 20 new airports on an aerotropolis, 10 autonomous low-frills cargo terminals and 20 integrated testing facilities for drone manufacturing and examination.