India’s Infrastructure Development

Source: PIB 
GS III: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways.

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. Key Highlights
3. Integrated Infrastructure Planning

Why in the News?

Press Information Bureau highlighted the transformative role of infrastructure development, supporting India’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.

News in Brief

• Over the past decade, India has significantly expanded its physical, digital and energy infrastructure over the past decade.
• Major initiatives in transport, electrification, clean energy and digital connectivity have improved ease of living and ease of doing business.
• Infrastructure is being positioned as a key pillar of economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development.

Key Highlights

• Road Infrastructure
  • National Highway network expanded substantially.
  • Focused on economic corridors and expressways.
  • Construction pace of highways increased significantly.

Major Schemes

• • • Bharatmala Pariyojana
      • • • Focused on economic corridors, border roads, coastal roads, and expressways.
          • Improves freight movement and regional connectivity.
          • Aims to reduce travel time and logistics costs, and enhances connectivity to remote regions.
    • Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
      • • • Transformed rural connectivity through all-weather road infrastructure,  improving access to healthcare, education, markets and economic opportunities.
• Railway Infrastructure
  • Accelerated electrification of railway routes.
  • Modernized railway stations.
  • Introduced semi-high speed trains such as Vande Bharat.
  • Expanded Dedicated Freight Corridors.

Major Initiatives

• • • Dedicated Freight Corridors
    • Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
    • Vande Bharat Programme
    • Aimed at providing faster passenger movement, improved freight efficiency and reduced carbon emissions.
• Port and Maritime Infrastructure
  • Enhancing capacity, and efficiency of ports.
  • Strengthened as efficient gateways for domestic and international trade.

Major Initiatives

• • • Sagarmala Programme
      • • • Port-led development strategy by integrating ports with industrial clusters and logistics network.
          • Supported modernization of infrastructure, and the development of coastal economic zones.
• Aviation Infrastructure
  • Expansion of airports across the country.
  • Smaller cities gained stronger air connectivity with major urban centres.

Major initiatives

• • • UDAN Scheme
      • • • Makes air travel affordable for wider sections.
          • Connects remote regions.
          • Enhances regional development.
• Urban Infrastructure
  • Expansion of affordable housing.
  • Improvement in urban services and basic amenities.

Major schemes

• • • Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
      • • • Affordable housing for urban and rural households.
    • Smart Cities Mission
      • • • Technology-driven urban development.
          • Supports planned urbanization.
• Water Infrastructure
  • Expanded through large-scale investments in drinking water access, irrigation facilities, river rejuvenation, and conservation systems.

Major Schemes

• • • Jal Jeevan Mission –  Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to rural households.
    • Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana – improved irrigation access and water-use efficiently.
    • Namami Gange Programme – river rejuvenation
    • Ken-Betwa Link Project – river interlinking
• Energy Infrastructure
  • Expansion of electricity access and clean cooking fuel.
  • Strengthening of transmission networks.
  • Growth in renewable energy capacity.

Major schemes

• • • PM Ujjwala Yojana – LPG connections to poor households, especially women.
    • GOBARdhan scheme – converts biodegradable waste into biogas and organic manure.
    • International Solar Alliance (ISA)  – By India and France to promote solar energy globally.
    • Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) – Promotes biofuel cooperation and adoption worldwide.
• Digital Infrastructure
  • Expansion in broadband connectivity.
  • Growth of digital public infrastructure.
  • Aims to bridge digital divide and supports e-governance,

Major Initiatives

• • • PM -WANI – affordable public internet access through decentralized public Wi-Fi hotspots.
    • BharatNet – High speed internet connectivity in rural areas.
    • UPI (Unified Payment Interface) – one of world’s largest real-time payment systems.
    • Other initiatives include
      • • • DigiLocker
          • UMANG
          • SWAYAM
          • DIKSHA
          • e-Hospital platform
          • PM e-Vidya

 Integrated Infrastructure Planning

• PM GatiShakti National Master Plan
  • • • GIS based integrated infrastructure planning platform.
      • Coordinate planning across multiple ministries.
      • Focus on multimodal connectivity.
      • Reduces project delays.
      • Improves infrastructure efficiency.
      • Reduces logistics costs.

These initiatives have improved competitiveness and supported India’s transition towards modern and integrated economy.

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Consider the following statements regarding India’s  infrastructure initiatives

1. The Global Biofuels Alliance was launched during India’s G20 Presidency.
2. GOBARdhan promotes conversion of biodegradable waste into biogas and organic manure.
3. PM -WANI expanded affordable public internet access through decentralized public Wi-Fi hotspots.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1,2 and 3

Answer: d) 1,2 and 3

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