This Paper has won Consolation Prize in the CoolAvenues' Paper-writing Competition - "In Search of Excellence" - for the Year 2005.

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Executive Summary

Infrastructure is the long-term asset of any country and is a critical factor contributing towards industrial and overall economic development, promoting economic growth by enhancing productivity, improving competitiveness and the living standard of the general population. Infrastructure development offers the foundation on which a country can seize and capitalize on the opportunities ushered in by globalization and regional integration.
It is almost a tautology to state that a modern economy only develops with economic and social infrastructure and well-functioning institutions that set the rules of the game for economic and social exchanges.

Perspectives of the infrastructure are changing and policy makers are examining various models relevant to their socio-economic framework. Even the multi-lateral agencies have realized that without a proper delivery system suited to the targeted country, many fine policies are doomed to fail. The key challenge is to manage infrastructure provision in such a manner that the resultant growth is socially inclusive or what is often called pro-poor growth.

The relation between transport and environment is paradoxical in nature. On one side, transportation activities increase the mobility demands for passengers and freight, whereas on the other side, it results in growing levels of motorization and traffic congestion

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* Contributed by -
Ferosh Babu Abu & Saurabh Chandra Joshi,
Kirloskar Institute of Advanced Management Studies,
Yantrapur, Harihar.