Comments on: Light At The End Of The Tunnel? http://indianeconomy.org/2006/08/03/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/ Issues & insights Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:43:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Atoms for Peace http://indianeconomy.org/2006/08/03/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/#comment-108773 Atoms for Peace Tue, 20 Feb 2007 21:46:08 +0000 http://indianeconomy.org/2006/08/03/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/#comment-108773 Hasn't improved much at all in the last 20-30 years IMO. Hasn’t improved much at all in the last 20-30 years IMO.

]]> By: amrita http://indianeconomy.org/2006/08/03/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/#comment-8561 amrita Wed, 23 Aug 2006 12:08:51 +0000 http://indianeconomy.org/2006/08/03/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/#comment-8561 i think instances of investment in infrastructure are comparatively few and far in between.our extremely pressed fiscal situation just does not leave additional respources for massive invstment in infrastructure.also,the govt of the day appears more interested in initiating new projects rather than maintaining old ones.the smartest way out,which even the govt is realising,is the public pvt partnership model in investment i think instances of investment in infrastructure are comparatively few and far in between.our extremely pressed fiscal situation just does not leave additional respources for massive invstment in infrastructure.also,the govt of the day appears more interested in initiating new projects rather than maintaining old ones.the smartest way out,which even the govt is realising,is the public pvt partnership model in investment

]]> By: MrRanger http://indianeconomy.org/2006/08/03/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/#comment-7195 MrRanger Wed, 09 Aug 2006 15:55:53 +0000 http://indianeconomy.org/2006/08/03/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/#comment-7195 I think two things need to be added to the list above. One is the Internet infrastructure and other is water. Internet is going to be very important in increasing efficiency and in opening up to the world. I think two things need to be added to the list above. One is the Internet infrastructure and other is water. Internet is going to be very important in increasing efficiency and in opening up to the world.

]]> By: Alex http://indianeconomy.org/2006/08/03/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/#comment-6933 Alex Mon, 07 Aug 2006 12:14:57 +0000 http://indianeconomy.org/2006/08/03/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/#comment-6933 Dear Sun, I agrre with your views except in the fact that public investment crowds out private investment. It is a mistake to assume that public and private sectors are always in competition with each other, in the case of India. The reason is apparent- we have got losts of unutilised resources. Public investment, if allocated properly, will create more demand which further increases production in an economy. Actually in India public investment 'crowds in' private investment. Dear Sun,
I agrre with your views except in the fact that public investment crowds out private investment.
It is a mistake to assume that public and private sectors are always in competition with each other, in the case of India.
The reason is apparent- we have got losts of unutilised resources. Public investment, if allocated properly, will create more demand which further increases production in an economy.
Actually in India public investment ‘crowds in’ private investment.

]]> By: fullymubbed http://indianeconomy.org/2006/08/03/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/#comment-6920 fullymubbed Mon, 07 Aug 2006 08:29:47 +0000 http://indianeconomy.org/2006/08/03/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/#comment-6920 From a citizen's point of view, I would think a lot of things have improved in Chennai - power, infrastructure, and the growth in those sectors are in good agreement with the overall economic growth/population/etc. Since my interests are in the fielf of power/energy, I would like to make a few comments 1. We can never give an overall opinion, it is always region specific in a country as diverse as ours. 2. South (Bangalore, Chennai, Mysore, etc) is doing considerably better than the North (Delhi, Gurgaon) as far as power infrastructure goes (I would love to give the numbers but time is a constraint on Monday noon!!). East has not grown much in terms of business growth more so because of the communist govt in Kolkata. Bombay is exploding but power infrastrucuture is better than the physical infrastructure (roads, drainage, etc). 3. The overall quality of power is of concern even in the growth pockets, as not much is done in terms of regulation to prevent low quality power being fed from the distribution system. Have a lot more to share but I stop here. Please check www.energyindia.blogspot.com for a few posts in this regard. 4. The present government has a decent energy policy, with nuclear energy a key component to meet the long-term energy needs (something thats quite accepted by even developed nations like Britain). We are doing quite well on the renewable energy portfolio too (ranked #4 in wind in the world), but a lot more awareness has to be created about power saving technologies, and more schemes developed in the same. 5. Rural electrification is also progressing in a phased manner..definitely, more homes are lit every other day!! 6. A more rural focussed energy scheme has to be developed, using bio-mass, solar, etc. rather than bringing them into the demand equation for non-renewable energy. From a citizen’s point of view, I would think a lot of things have improved in Chennai - power, infrastructure,
and the growth in those sectors are in good agreement with the overall economic growth/population/etc.
Since my interests are in the fielf of power/energy, I would like to make a few comments
1. We can never give an overall opinion, it is always region specific in a country as diverse as ours.
2. South (Bangalore, Chennai, Mysore, etc) is doing considerably better than the North (Delhi, Gurgaon)
as far as power infrastructure goes (I would love to give the numbers but time is a constraint on Monday noon!!).
East has not grown much in terms of business growth more so because of the communist govt in Kolkata. Bombay is
exploding but power infrastrucuture is better than the physical infrastructure (roads, drainage, etc).
3. The overall quality of power is of concern even in the growth pockets, as not much is done in terms of
regulation to prevent low quality power being fed from the distribution system.

Have a lot more to share but I stop here. Please check www.energyindia.blogspot.com for a few posts in this regard.
4. The present government has a decent energy policy, with nuclear energy a key component to meet the long-term
energy needs (something thats quite accepted by even developed nations like Britain). We are doing quite well on
the renewable energy portfolio too (ranked #4 in wind in the world), but a lot more awareness has to be created
about power saving technologies, and more schemes developed in the same.
5. Rural electrification is also progressing in a phased manner..definitely, more homes are lit every other day!!
6. A more rural focussed energy scheme has to be developed, using bio-mass, solar, etc. rather than bringing them
into the demand equation for non-renewable energy.

]]> By: GeneralPublic http://indianeconomy.org/2006/08/03/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/#comment-6917 GeneralPublic Mon, 07 Aug 2006 08:24:11 +0000 http://indianeconomy.org/2006/08/03/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/#comment-6917 Yup, US is getting lots of shipping containers but has nothing to give back!!!! --------------------------- Shipping Containers Recycled as Homes http://dynamic.cnn.com/apps/tp/video/tech/2006/08/01/wian.living.in.a.box.affl/video.ws.asx --------------------------- Yup, US is getting lots of shipping containers but has nothing to give back!!!!

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Shipping Containers Recycled as Homes
http://dynamic.cnn.com/apps/tp/video/tech/2006/08/01/wian.living.in.a.box.affl/video.ws.asx
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]]> By: aj http://indianeconomy.org/2006/08/03/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/#comment-6915 aj Mon, 07 Aug 2006 08:01:50 +0000 http://indianeconomy.org/2006/08/03/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/#comment-6915 Mr Ninan is painting a rosier picture of reality. I am bullish on India but it helps to be realistic. Here is what I know anecdotally from exporters of manufactured goods from India.. (please verify these through your resources) The time taken for a container to load on a ship to US from the time it reaches the port? at Mumbai port : 2-3 weeks at Shanghai port : 48 hours!! ..and typically a container leaving for US from Mumbai has to be routed through S'pore or Dubai which adds a further 1 week delay. In the world of Just-In-Time manufacturing, this is absolutely unacceptable. The reasons: not right technology at ports, capacity, unionized labor, work practices, etc. When it came to shipping bits/bytes - the infrastructure (fiber/bandwidth) was to create - as it had no legacy and most of it was excess capacity created by global companies. For shipping atoms, the bottleneck TODAY is not internal roads (the worst case delay they can add to any shipment is 1 day) ..it is the ports!! Legacy is the biggest impediment to change. I hope we invest more in modern ports in newer locations Mr Ninan is painting a rosier picture of reality. I am bullish on India but it helps to be realistic.

Here is what I know anecdotally from exporters of manufactured goods from India.. (please verify these through your resources)

The time taken for a container to load on a ship to US from the time it reaches the port?
at Mumbai port : 2-3 weeks
at Shanghai port : 48 hours!!
..and typically a container leaving for US from Mumbai has to be routed through S’pore or Dubai which adds a further 1 week delay.

In the world of Just-In-Time manufacturing, this is absolutely unacceptable. The reasons: not right technology at ports, capacity, unionized labor, work practices, etc.

When it came to shipping bits/bytes - the infrastructure (fiber/bandwidth) was to create - as it had no legacy and most of it was excess capacity created by global companies. For shipping atoms, the bottleneck TODAY is not internal roads (the worst case delay they can add to any shipment is 1 day) ..it is the ports!!

Legacy is the biggest impediment to change. I hope we invest more in modern ports in newer locations

]]> By: sun http://indianeconomy.org/2006/08/03/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/#comment-6911 sun Mon, 07 Aug 2006 07:08:06 +0000 http://indianeconomy.org/2006/08/03/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/#comment-6911 I am not optimistic.Metro Cities do not make whole of India. 'In the case of fiscal policy,government deficits are huge.Combined central and state fiscal deficits have been around 8 to 9 % of GDP in recent years.The fiscal situation has constrained public infrastructure investment and crowded out private investment. The deficits also undermines reforms in other areas,such as the financial sector,because the government is always concerned about finding buyers for the debt' Past,howsoever glorious,do no help. http://www.ciionline.org/news/newsMain.asp?news_id=87200692058AM I am not optimistic.Metro Cities do not make whole of India.
‘In the case of fiscal policy,government deficits are huge.Combined central and state fiscal deficits have been around 8 to 9 % of
GDP in recent years.The fiscal situation has constrained public infrastructure investment and crowded out private investment.
The deficits also undermines reforms in other areas,such as the financial sector,because the government is always concerned about
finding buyers for the debt’
Past,howsoever glorious,do no help.

http://www.ciionline.org/news/newsMain.asp?news_id=87200692058AM

]]> By: little Ram http://indianeconomy.org/2006/08/03/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/#comment-6834 little Ram Sun, 06 Aug 2006 16:29:29 +0000 http://indianeconomy.org/2006/08/03/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/#comment-6834 Prashant, On the remainer of infrastructure here are some views- 1. The way Railway reservations have been transformed is incredible- glitch free, transparent and hassle-free. The amenities at the stations although nowhere near what they should be, are improving dramatically with pvt. sector participation. On top of it all, with incresed mkt share in freighting, Indian Rlys actually returns a good surplus! 2. Ports getting privatised has helped; but the congestion is still a mess. We are way behind investment in capacity. 3. Inter-state transport is well, improving. Better roads and the Volvo buses are adding to the rail capacity. I am very hopeful despite all the issues. The way electronic voting has caught on, the way technology and rising income levels are driving progress, we will see definite progress. Yes, Iknow it seems so unbeleiveably bad as compared to the developed world; so much slower than China. Still, there is progress being made. Prashant,

On the remainer of infrastructure here are some views-

1. The way Railway reservations have been transformed is incredible- glitch free, transparent and hassle-free. The amenities at the stations although nowhere near what they should be, are improving dramatically with pvt. sector participation. On top of it all, with incresed mkt share in freighting, Indian Rlys actually returns a good surplus!

2. Ports getting privatised has helped; but the congestion is still a mess. We are way behind investment in capacity.

3. Inter-state transport is well, improving. Better roads and the Volvo buses are adding to the rail capacity.

I am very hopeful despite all the issues. The way electronic voting has caught on, the way technology and rising income levels are driving progress, we will see definite progress. Yes, Iknow it seems so unbeleiveably bad as compared to the developed world; so much slower than China. Still, there is progress being made.

]]> By: IndianJester http://indianeconomy.org/2006/08/03/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/#comment-6782 IndianJester Sun, 06 Aug 2006 07:55:22 +0000 http://indianeconomy.org/2006/08/03/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/#comment-6782 Well, I think India has a long way to go when it comes to upgrading infrastructure. A few metros/pockets getting a better deal than before does not mean anything. There is little evidence there is any sort of planning and thinking going on behind the current govt thrust in infrastructure. Activity and accomplishment are different things. Well, I think India has a long way to go when it comes to upgrading infrastructure. A few metros/pockets
getting a better deal than before does not mean anything. There is little evidence there is any sort of planning and thinking going on behind the current govt thrust in infrastructure. Activity and accomplishment are different things.

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