Big cities have lessons for govt's plan to integrate infra development

PM's I-Day speech had focused on areas such as health and infra for a self-reliant New India. The second of a three-part series looks at the challenges in banking on infra spending to spur growth

When emperors in ancient days built roads, monuments, or even cities, thousands were employed and localities came with the territory to house the workers who sometimes migrated from other countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was perhaps banking on this approach when, in his Independence Day speech this year, he said the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) would benefit small and large enterprises and even farmers.

“It is often said that during crises, emphasis should be given on infrastructure so that economic activity is speeded up and people get employment and it generates a cascading effect,” Modi said.

Under the NIP, the