Budget 2019: Steps needed to bolster transport infra, boost India's growth

Union Budget 2019: Transportation infrastructure and allied services are critical growth engines for propelling India's rise as an economic superpower. While the public sector has played a dominant role in investing in infrastructure creation, the government will need increased private sector participation to supplement the rapidly growing industrial demand for a modern and robust transportation and logistics network at par with developed countries. The infrastructure sector was one of the major focus areas in the FY19 budget and saw massive spending on roads, railways, water, irrigation, and urban infrastructure. With all eyes on the upcoming Union Budget, the Government should focus on not only allocation of funds, but also on setting up a road map for clearly outlining the private and government sectors' role in infrastructure creation and operations over the next year. Some interventions which may be considered by the Government for boosting the transportation and logistics sector in the country are proposed below:

Railways: With elimination of level crossings and other measures, the Railways' track record of safety improved last year. However, there is still a long way to go for Indian Railways. Replacing walking inspection with automated inspections, upgradation of track management system into a dynamic asset maintenance and management system, improved mechanisation of track maintenance organisation across zones and greater use of RCM/CBM and IoT for real time monitoring and predictive maintenance of assets are a few steps,which would go a long way in ensuring safety.
Read Complete Article