Indian Infrastructure Scenario

Prof. Avadhut Kshirsagar

Introduction

The development of a country’s infrastructure is vital to the growth of its sectors and the overall economy. The infrastructure sector is a key driver for the Indian economy.

The increased spending in this sector has a multiplier effect on overall economic growth as it necessitates industrial growth and manufacturing. This in turn boosts aggregate demand by improving living conditions.

The infrastructure sector primarily comprises electricity, roads, telecommunications, railways, irrigation, water supply and sanitation, ports and airports, storing facilities, and oil and gas pipelines. India was ranked 44th out of 167 countries in World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI) 2018. India is ranked second in the 2019 Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index.

Market Size

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) received in Construction Development sector (townships, housing, built up infrastructure and construction development projects) from April 2000 to December 2019 stood at US$ 25.37 billion, according to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). The logistics sector in India is growing at a CAGR of 10.5 per cent annually and is expected to reach US$ 215 billion in 2021.

Government Initiatives

The Government of India is expected to invest highly in the infrastructure sector, mainly highways, renewable energy and urban transport. The Government of India is taking every possible initiative to boost the infrastructure sector. Announcements in Union Budget 2019-20:

· India plans to spend US$ 1.4 trillion on infrastructure in the next five years.

· NHAI will be able to generate revenue of Rs one lakh crore (US$ 14.31 billion) from toll and wayside amenities over the next five years.

· In the Union Budget 2020-21, the Government of India has given a massive push to the infrastructure sector by allocating Rs 1,69,637 crore (US$ 24.27 billion) for the transport infrastructure.

· As per Union Budget 2020-2021, Metro rail network has touched 657 KM and Ministry of Railways have been allocated Rs 72,216 crore (US$ 10.33 billion).

· Communication sector allocated Rs 38,637.46 crore (US$ 5.36 billion) to development of post and telecommunications departments.

· The Indian Railways received allocation under Union Budget 2020-21 at Rs 72,216 crore (US$ 10.33 billion).

· Rs 3,899.9 crore (US$ 540.53 billion) to increase capacity of Green Energy Corridor Project along with wind and solar power projects.

· Allocation of Rs 8,350.00 crore (US$ 1.16 billion) to boost telecom infrastructure.

· Water supply to be provided to all households in 500 cities.

· Allocation of Rs 888.00 crore (US$ 110.88 million) for the upgradation of state government medical colleges (PG seats) at the district hospitals and Rs 1,361.00 crore (US$ 188.63 million) for government medical colleges (UG seats) and government health institutions.

National Infrastructure Pipeline

The National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) is a group of social and economic infrastructure projects in India over a period of five years with a sanctioned amount of ₹103 lakh crore (US$1.4 trillion). The pipeline was first made public by the Prime Minister of India during his 2019 Independence Day speech. The Finance Minister announced that the NIP consists of 78% projects by the centre and states, and the remaining by the private sector.[2] The NIP is a pillar of government of India’s aim to become a $5 trillion economy by 2025.

Allocation of funds to various sub sectors of infrastructure is shown below.

Road Ahead

India’s national highway network is expected to cover 50,000 kilometres by 2019. National highway construction in India has increased by 20 per cent year-on-year in 2017-18.

The government has suggested the investment of Rs 5,000,000 crore (US$ 750 billion) for railways infrastructure between 2018-2030.

India and Japan have joined hands for infrastructure development in India’s north-eastern states and are also setting up an India-Japan Coordination Forum for Development of North East to undertake strategic infrastructure projects in the northeast.

Smart Cities Development

Apart from the above, the Government has also established Smart Cities Mission of India to look after the development of 100 smart cities across all the states of India. This ambitious program is supposed to have a planned spend of Rs. 20.5 lakh crore by year 2023.

Real Estate Sector

Real estate which is primarily a private sector industry is expected to touch US$ 180 billion or Rs. 200 lakh crore by year 2023.

Who Will Build?

There is involvement of civil engineering expertise in each of these areas not only from the site management point of view but also in planning, designing, and even financing aspects of business. With the exponential growth in infrastructure and real estate activities, the requirement for civil engineers in construction sector is also expected to grow exponentially, not only as employees but also as employers such as contractors and concessionaires. If this demand for civil engineers is not met then ‘who will build?’ is the question that will have to ask ourselves.

References:

1) http://www.ibef.org

2) http://www.pib.gov.in

3) http://www.wikipedia.org

Site visit for PEC-II Repair and Restoration of Structures (Semester VI)

Dr. Tanuja Bandivadekar

February 20th 2021, (AY -2020-21)

Specialized NDT Laboratory – STRUCTWEL, Vashi, Navi Mumbai

Students of Semester VI, B. Tech and MBA Tech of Professional Elective course on Repair and restoration of structures went for visit at STRUCTWEL specialized laboratory for Non destructive and Destructive testing of concrete and mortar. The Lab is at Vashi , New Mumbai. Non destructive and Destructive testing of concrete and mortar is important part of repair and restoration of structures. It facilitates to take decision on repair material, repair methodology for any project. Students learned about various methods , equipment used and advantages and shortcoming of each method. They could handle each equipment and learned how to take readings and correlate them with health of concrete as well as reinforcement. The session was followed by a lecture on NDT at field by a senior engineer from STRUCTWEL which was very interesting talk and discussion thereafter.

We then went to see construction of jetty at Retibunder at Belapur. This visit was arranged by student of this class Atharva Chavan. Students were thrilled to be on working platform where piling was going on. You can see the working platform in the photo behind students.

Both visits were interesting and informative. Since we all were meeting in person after long time everyone was excited, including me.

Amen!!!

Fond memories with Team CESA

Dr. Tanuja Bandivadekar

I took charge as Department Head from Dr. Hegde in 2018 July. Academic year 2018- 19 was special for Civil Engineering department since we were hosting ASCE National Level Student Conference. That was the first conference held at MPSTME on a large scale where national level teams participated in the concrete Canoe competition. The conference was for four action packed days. The complete Team CESA along with organizers of conference and faculty mentors worked hard and made it a grand success. Being Department head I had a chance to interact with Team CESA and TEAM Technocrat. They all were vibrant, dynamic, with lots of new ideas. Working with them, observing their passionate work was wonderful experience I will never forget.

In 2019, during ABET accreditation visit, the program evaluator was impressed interacting with CESA team members and specially mentioned about energetic and lively student chapter of ASCE in his report. That was a proud moment for CESA. We eventually received ABET accreditation for Civil Engineering program for six years.

I wish our ASCE international student chapter will scale new heights in future. All my good wishes. Make us proud.!!!

A Career in Infrastructure: A Lucrative and Respectable Option

Dr. Manoj Anaokar

‘Infrastructure’ is a buzz word in today’s time. Union and state budgets, economists, people from social and political world, media and last but not least the citizens of the country, we hear from all of them, talking in some or the other context, about the infrastructure. Is it really so important? If the answer to the question is assertive then the next question that pops up in our mind is what’s so important about it?

Just consider a remote village in the valleys of the mountains which are difficult to reach even by walkways and footpaths, forget about the reach of any vehicle. People in such villages have no access to good medical facilities, children in these villages are deprived of even a primary education, people need to go out of the village walking miles of a distance for day-to-day essentials and job opportunities is just a dream in their eyes. Even if a kaccha unpaved road is constructed connecting such a village with the outside world, the couple of trips of a bus of public transport open the doors of development in this village. People can bring the day-to-day essentials commodities and sell them in the small shops in village giving rise to their earnings, students of the village can get a small primary school where the teachers from outside can come and educate them, a small local health centre with a visiting doctor can cater the elementary treatment needs and access to ambulance can provide the villagers better medical attention in medical emergencies.

This was just a glimpse of what a kaccha road, a small element of infrastructure, can make a stunning effect in upgrading the quality of life of people. When the villages, towns and cities get a variety of state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities that make the wonder in the lives of people. People get connected with the world stimulating the social and cultural development, enhancing the better educational and employment opportunities, providing the access to the emerging markets by increasing trade and manufacture. This fosters the overall economic growth of a region.

Infrastructure is not just about provision of efficient road network but it also includes network of railways, water supply and waste management, and the most important is the power sector which is the basic necessity for all other economic sectors. This importance of infrastructure is clearly reflected in the Union Budget 2021 of India. The Budget has allocated 1 lakh 18 thousand and 101 crores for road projects, 1 lakh 10 thousand and 55 crores for railways, 1 lakh 41 thousand crores for swatch Bharat Mission for solid waste and waste water treatment, etc. and 3 lakh 5 crores for boosting the power sector. This will emphasise not only the importance of the infrastructure sector in the country but also insinuates the immediate as well as long term job and employment opportunities in huge number in this sector.

Civil engineers have the major role in creations of the wonders in the infrastructure sector with the knowledge of modern technology and skills acquired by them at their undergraduate and post graduate studies. They also have the scope in the research and development of sustainable infrastructure facilities. Their role in the wealth creations and the economic growth of the country is therefore inevitable.

Students completing their higher secondary education and their parents who are in search of best short-term and long-term career options should come forward to join civil engineering. By becoming a Civil Engineer, they will not only get the rewarding salary packages but also will achieve a proud and respectable position in the society as one of the creators of modern infrastructure and contributor in shaping the economy of the country.

Profile of Dr. Manoj Anaokar

· Ph. D. Civil Engineering, PGD in Communication and Journalism

· Specialization: Geotechnical Engineering, Transportation Geotechnics

· Teaching Experience: 20 years; Industry Experience: 08 years

· Founding Faculty Advisor for International Students’ Chapter for American Society of Civil Engineers

· M. ASCE, L.M. Amerian Concrete Institute (ACI), India Chapter, L.M. Indian Geotechnical Society (IGS) Mumbai Chapter, L.M. Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE)

· Research Papers in International Journals and Conferences

· Reviewer for Research Papers for International Journals of repute