India set to take quantum leap in infrastructure rise: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the county is set for a quantum leap in infrastructure development. He said that concerted efforts are being made to bolster growth in “highways, I-ways (information highways) and railways”.

Speaking at a function to launch the ambitious Rs 50,800 crore “Setu Bharatam” project, which seeks to ensure highways without railway crossings by 2019 and overhaul of 1,500 British-era bridges, Mr Modi said his government is committed to expediting all projects related to infrastructure. “Our endeavour is for a quantum jump in infrastructure for a breakthrough by fast-tracking them,” Mr Modi said, adding that “infrastructure plays the same role for a nation that arteries play in a human body”.

The Prime Minister lauded Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Suresh Prabhu for the turnaround in infrastructure development. He said that “infrastructure plays a pivotal role in the country’s growth and a comprehensive integrated approach has been initiated”.

“The government’s emphasis is not just on highways, but on I-ways and railways. Normally, governments are in the habit of doing incremental work only, but the approach of the current one is different. It is driven by long-term growth and is working to satisfy the long-felt aspirations of people,” said Mr Modi.

The government, through the “Setu Bharatam” project, is aiming to eliminate a total of 208 railway crossings with rail overbridges by 2019 at an estimated cost of Rs 20,800 crore. Another 1,500 bridges of the British era will be overhauled at an estimated expenditure of Rs 30,000 crore across the country. Mr Modi said that for the first time all bridges in the country are being mapped, with the Indian Bridge Management System having been introduced to map all 1,50,000 bridges in the country.

“Nobody knows which bridge is where. Imagine how work was being done. I am not blaming any elected body for this or any Prime Minister or ministers. This is the flaw of the system. We didn’t accord priority to these things,” said the Prime Minister.