India has a long way to go before it’s ‘viksit’. There is ample evidence to show heavy rains in a short period are becoming the norm. So, infrastructure such as airports, railways and bridges need to be built or retrofitted, factoring in that reality. It’s the responsibility of stakeholders – airport operator GMR and overseer GoI in the case of the Delhi mishap – to ensure that infra is resilient. Blaming previous dispensations won’t do. Maintenance is a responsibility of the here and now.
After the first day of monsoon, the state of Delhi/NCR was equally appalling, with even the toniest of areas waterlogged. The showpiece Pragati Maidan tunnel, built before last year’s G20 summit, was also waist-deep in water and closed. This is what happens when construction occurs in the river recharge zone and a wetland without caring two hoots about science, topography and hydrology. The calamitous situation of India’s capital city shows that pumping money into infra without proper planning, execution and maintenance is a waste of precious public resources, and a danger to lives. Let’s tackle life in 2024 India first. 2047 can follow.