| | AUGUST 20218THOUGHT LEADERSHIPRURAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT HOLDS THE KEY TO INDIA'S GROWTHBy Dr Harish Sharma, Executive Director (Smart City & Infrastructure Services), REPLHe is a seasoned infrastructure professional with 25 years of experience. Having handled multiple aspects in infrastructure domain, including the business development, design, implementation and operations of prestigious projects, he successfully completed projects on BOT, Annuity, HAM, EPC, DPRs, Feasibility, CSC, and AE.Target for India's future have been spelt out loud and clear. A US $5 trillion economy; Infrastructure Development; Housing & better living standards; Enhancing agriculture production and more other. The list has just begun. The Rural Indian is going to be in the midst of it all, for that is where the future lies now. With the Government of India going full throttle ahead with projects that are aimed at the Rural Indian, Rural Infrastructure development will be the key. Enhancing Rural InfrastructureWith nearly two-thirds of India's population in rural areas, a mind boggling 800 million people, the challenges and market opportunities that it presents cannot be ignored. Rural areas contribute around 46 percent to the country's net domestic product and employ 70 percent of the total workforce. The Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector itself in rural and semi-urban India is expected to reach US$ 100 billion by 2025 (*Source: IBEF.ORG). The requirement of establishing rail, road and air connectivity to smart cities will be a key task to ensuring an interface with rural India. Electrification, communications networks and last mile connectivity both for raw materials, agriculture and industrial produce, information highways for business, education, health, tourism, irrigation and industrial activity are some of the factors that will attract major attention. The plan to invest Rs 10,000,000 crore (US$ 1.5 trillion) in infrastructure over the next five years is a significant step in this direction. The upgradation of 1,25,000 kms of road length over the next five years at an estimated cost of Rs 80,250 crore (US$ 12.03 billion) is envisaged under PradhanMantri Gram SadakYojana-III (PMGSY). The Bharatmala Phase-1 & 2 to develop the state road networks will be a shot in the arm for developing seamless connectivity to rural areas which is bound to impact the overall economy in a big way. Development of nearly 34800 km in Phase-1 with target completion in 2021-22 and over 48000 km proposed in Phase-2 including an additional 3000 km of expressways with target completion by 2024 will be a vital infrastructure boost. More than 10000 km of projects have already been approved under the Phase-1. Dr Harish Sharma, Executive Director
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