Exploring the Transformation of India’s Infrastructure Governance

India’s infrastructure landscape has experienced a profound evolution in the past decade, not just in terms of physical assets but in the very fabric of governance and delivery mechanisms. This transformative phase is characterized by a holistic and outcome-driven approach that aligns policy vision, intergovernmental cooperation, and efficient implementation.

The shift towards a platform-based governance model signifies a departure from the traditional project-centric approach to viewing infrastructure as an interconnected national system. This paradigm shift emphasizes the importance of integration and synergy among various infrastructure projects.

Embracing Integrated Systems for Enhanced Scale

The remarkable expansion of India’s National Highway network, growing from 91,000 km to over 1.46 lakh km, exemplifies the success of this integrated approach. The substantial increase in construction speed, from 12 km per day to 34 km per day, highlights the efficiency gained by seamless project coordination.

Efficient project synchronization anticipates constraints and enables timely resolutions, leading to accelerated socio-economic benefits such as improved connectivity, access to essential services, and enhanced industrial growth by reducing logistic costs.

Institutionalizing Accountability and Timely Resolution

The era of time-bound accountability ushered in by initiatives like PRAGATI has revolutionized the governance of complex, multi-sector projects. The cultural shift towards assigning clear ownership and eliminating delays has instilled predictability and discipline in project execution.

Furthermore, the emphasis on cooperative federalism has fostered closer collaboration between the Centre and States, streamlining infrastructure delivery and enhancing consensus-building. States now actively participate in project planning and execution, leading to smoother implementation and reduced disputes.

Transitioning from Asset-Centric to Network-Oriented Planning

India’s infrastructure strategy now prioritizes competitiveness through multi-modal planning that integrates various transportation modes. This approach, facilitated by frameworks like GatiShakti, aims to reduce logistics costs by optimizing asset coordination and improving national asset utilization.

Building Investor Confidence and Industry Resilience

The transparent policy framework and expedited decision-making processes have bolstered investor confidence in India’s infrastructure sector. This conducive environment encourages investments in technology, safety measures, and skill development, enabling companies to scale operations with certainty.

Future Policy Imperatives for Sustainable Growth

• Enhanced front-end planning and quality DPRs
• Integration of sustainability and resilience in project lifecycle planning
• Adoption of digital governance for faster decision-making
• Capacity building at local levels for sustained execution quality
• Development of risk-sharing frameworks to balance speed and financial prudence
• Promotion of skill development across the infrastructure life cycle

India’s infrastructure journey is poised for a value-driven phase, focusing on enhancing systems, ensuring continuity, and fostering inclusive and competitive growth. The evolution of infrastructure governance is integral to India’s progress towards a resilient and sustainable future.

(The author is Chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Maharashtra and Chairman of the National committee of Roads & Highways.)