Infrastructure Development Strategies for Inclusive Growth: India’s Eleventh Plan

Abstract

India’s Eleventh Plan includes strategies and plans for infrastructure development and inclusive growth during 2007 to 2012. The Eleventh Plan’s strategy involves an increase in investment in infrastructure through both the public and private sectors. In the private sector, the strategy is to promote investment directly where feasible or through some form of public-private partnership (PPP). Public investment has been given priority in areas where private participation is unlikely to be forthcoming. Where there is scope for private investment, the aim will be to attract such investment in a transparent manner with clearly defined responsibilities and an open, competitive bidding process. Infrastructure priorities include all-weather roads; round-the-clock availability of power at a stable voltage and frequency; water for irrigation; railways that are not overcrowded, run on time, and do not overcharge for freight; ports with low turnaround time to reduce costs of imports and exports; airports to handle growing air traffic; air services to connect all parts of the country; and telecommunications and broadband connectivity to provide the benefits of the Internet to people all over the country.