Infrastructure

Infrastructure constitutes all the support structures like Transport systems, communication facilities, etc. It has much importance for the development of a state or country. 

• Supporting services like transport, communication, etc are facilitated by infrastructure in the fields of industrial and agricultural productions for domestic or foreign trade and commerce
• Some examples of infrastructure are railways, roads, power stations, gas pipelines, etc                                                                   Infrastructure is divided into 2 categories:

1. Economic Infrastructure: Infrastructure associated with energy, transportation, and communication. 
2. Social Infrastructure: Infrastructure related to education, health, and housing. 

Types of Infrastructure

1. Economic Infrastructure: Efficient economic infrastructure is essential to the success of a country or an organisation. This comprises the essential amenities and services that have a direct impact on and help the economic distribution process. Power, transportation, irrigation, and communication are all aspects of economic infrastructure.
2. Social Infrastructure: This sort of infrastructure provides the fundamental services necessary to raise productivity and meet societal goals. Economic growth is indirectly influenced by the development of the country’s social infrastructure. For example, a country’s education sector does not immediately contribute to its economic growth. As a result of the high-quality education it provides, it indirectly contributes to the creation of medical professionals and other skilled workers. Some examples of social infrastructure include water supply, sanitation, health care, and housing, among others.

Relevance of Infrastructure 

1. It provides the support system for the efficient working of the modern industrial economy. 
2. Modern agriculture also depends on speedy and large-scale transport systems. Now it also depends upon modern insurance and banking facilities. 
3. Infrastructure has much importance in the economical development of a country by improving the quality of life of the people and by enhancing the productive capacity of the nation.
4. Reduction in the rate of morbidity i.e.proneness to fall ill has been attained through improved water supply and sanitation.
5. Health care centers are now accessible within less time due to the quality of transport & communication infrastructure. 

The State of Infrastructure in India:

• Traditionally the role of developing a country’s infrastructure was limited to the government, today even the private sector is actively participating in it
• Despite hosting a majority of our population, rural India still lacks Infrastructure facilities                                                                     Census 2011 on the status of Infrastructure in India:

1. Only 56% of rural households have an electricity connection. 
2. 43% of households still use kerosene. 
3. About 85% of households use bio-fuels for cooking.
4. The availability of tap water is resisted up to only 31% for households. 
5. 69%  depend on open sources like wells etc. for drinking water needs.
6. In rural areas, the access to improved sanitation was only 30%.                                                                                                                   India invests only 30% of its GDP on infrastructure, which is far below that of China and Indonesia. For becoming the world’s third-largest economy, India will need to give a greater push to infrastructure development. Low-Income countries are more focused on basic infrastructure like irrigation, power, etc. Developed economies are more focused on service-related infrastructure. In this way, the economic development of a state and the development of infrastructure go parallelly. Improper Infrastructure acts as a severe constraint to economic development. 

Infrastructure Development in Various Sectors

1. METRO RAIL AND STREET LIGHT RAIL: The overall capital expenditure for railways in 2019-20 was estimated to be Rs.1.59 trillion. The Union Budget 2020-21 allots 72,216 crores to the Ministry of Railways.
2. ROADS: The construction and development of 2,000 kilometres of coastal connecting highways have been prioritised. By 2022, the Indian government plans to build 65,000 kilometres of roadways.
3. The second phase of Bharatmala, which aims to improve the state’s road network, will be launched. The Indian government has issued a request for bids for the installation of charging infrastructure on the country’s major motorways and expressways. 
4. TELECOM: 8350 crores of rupees were allotted for Infrastructure development and expansion in the Union Budget 2019-20.
5. HOUSING: Affordable housing was designated as infrastructure in the 2017-18 federal budget. the ‘Housing for All’ programme, which aims to construct 20 million urban homes and 30,000,000 rural residences by 2022, was launched in June 2015
6. AIRPORT: Building additional terminals and increasing capacity at current ones will cost AAI approximately Rs. 21,000 crore (US$ 3.2 billion) during 2018-22. Over the past five years, AAI has created and upgraded 23 metro airports.
   

   Conclusion

   According to the Economic Survey, India needs to invest approximately USD 1.4 trillion in infrastructure over the next five years in order to achieve a GDP of USD 5 trillion by FY’25.

   India spent approximately USD 1.1 trillion on infrastructure in the financial years 2008 to 2017. There is a big challenge ahead of us, though, according to the Economic Survey 2021-22.