Infrastructure In India Research Articles

Environmental Politics in India Between 2014 and 2019: A Critique of Policies and Projects

After being elected into power in 2014, Narendra Modi’s government made some policy-related decisions in his first five-year term that impacted the country’s environment. Some of the policy decisions taken by the Modi government during 2014–2019 were criticised, while a few had improved or promised to improve climate infrastructure in India. There were protests against some of the decisions taken by the Modi government; a few of those protests were dealt strongly by the Indian state. This article examines the environmental situation, policy, and politics between 2014 and 2019.

Disability, culture, and erased sexuality: curated raw narratives of disabled women with significant impairments in India

Disabled women with significant impairments (DWSI) are not adequately recognised within feminist disability studies. They face stigma, carnal taboos, and systemic exclusion from economies of desire and sexuality. Their voices are seldom heard, and their stories, when captured, are whitewashed. There is an urgent need for these women to gain voice and visibility as a unique category within the political spectrum of women with disabilities so that their unique challenges can be identified and their rights restored. In-depth research aimed at spotlighting their unique challenges and vulnerabilities using ‘raw narratives’ as a novel method, exposed their tabooed and otherwise censored embodied experiences. This paper presents a candid case study of one such woman in India using narrative inquiry and autoethnography. Carol Thomas’ notion of ‘impairment effects’ and Margrit Shildrick’s concept of ‘embodied precarity’ are used to highlight how impairment effects, coupled with inadequate care infrastructure in India, force disabled women with significant impairments into chronic states of dependency and precarity, leading to an internalised loss of self-worth and agency. The wider use of raw narratives as a lens to probe unspoken elements of human experience and further study of DWSI as a community could enrich feminist disability studies.

The Viability of Emerging Public and Private Generic Drug Infrastructure in India: An in-vitro Case Study Using Statins as Model Drug

The healthcare system has been fundamentally altered by the introduction of generic medications, and their market share continues to rise because these are genuine, dependable, secure, affordable, and accessible to all the needy and poor in society. In this regard, the generic drug industry, which strives for authenticity, affordability, and accessibility, plays a significant role. Using HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (Atorvastatin and Rosuvastatin) as model drugs, the study aimed to determine the viability of the emerging public and private generic drug infrastructure in India, which included Janaushadhi, Dava India, and other assorted companies. The organoleptic properties and official and non-official quality control tests were evaluated. According to the in-vitro dissolution profiles, the Mankind brand of atorvastatin has shown the highest dissolution profile (75.29%), and the Dava India brand of rosuvastatin has the maximum drug release (97.26%) in one hour release. The Peppas model best explained the drug release model, which inferred the release profile to be diffusion-specific. The compatibility analysis of the tablet formulation has been shown through FTIR studies. These results concluded that public generic drugs are as effective as private generic drugs, and patients can easily take the cost-effective brand of medication.

The SAP-LAP and IRP approaches for formation of policy framework of electric vehicles and its charging infrastructure in India

The SAP-LAP and IRP approaches for formation of policy framework of electric vehicles and its charging infrastructure in India

Temporal geographies of premature death: Caste, law, and infrastructure in Swachh Bharat

Why do sewage and manual cleaning workers, who mostly belong to Dalit communities, die prematurely? In answering this question, I argue that the mutually reinforcing relationship between law and infrastructure enables their premature deaths. The gaps in law and those in urban sanitation infrastructure in India, combined with deeply entrenched Caste ethos, and the commodification of cleanliness, create conditions where the deaths of sewage workers are a regular occurrence. I situate deaths of sewage workers within the Clean India Campaign, a government program for clean public infrastructure and managing fecal matter to posit that the relentless pursuit of cleanliness results in its commodification, which in turn exacerbates the exploitation of the sewage cleaning workers.Using a theoretical lens drawn from Black studies and Dalit-Bahujan scholarship, I demonstrate that the temporality of law and infrastructure makes the cleaning workers invisible to the planners and implementers of the Clean India Campaign. Under such conditions, the cleaning workers gain recognition from law only when they die. Their appalling working conditions and the near absence of workplace protections hardly get any attention. It is only when they die that the law recognizes their personhood. I draw attention to how law and infrastructure influence each other and contribute to Black Studies and Dalit Studies by framing caste as racializing assemblages—contextualizing the temporal geographies of premature death and the role of infrastructures as an assemblage.

The Impact of IoT on Smart City Infrastructure in India

Today, we live in a society where digital communication systems are so advanced that by the mid 2050’s the world will be completely filled by smart buildings on the internet highway like those portrayed in science fiction movies. This is possible because of tech savvy tiny sensors or Internet of Things (IoT) devices embedded in the smart network in order to collect meaningful information about the citizens and their interaction with the ubiquitous environment. Smart sustainable cities are modelled on the Internet of Things blending ICT for better standard of living and citizen services. IoT will modify indoor temperatures and switch off unnecessary lights in homes, detect snags in equipment and fix machines remotely, and provide commuters with information on traffic jams on the go. IoT in smart cities can be implemented by the development authorities but the stake holders of this task are citizens, the municipal government and private organizations engaged in this partnership. Using sophisticated ICT systems makes the city smarter and improves community building and connectivity by interweaving all the components of a city. Privacy and security are the two watch words when it comes to capturing citizens’ data. This data needs to be anonymised before it reaches the civic authorities. This study evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of using IoT in Indian smart cities after discussing an international case study of a smart sustainable city.

Unequal Educational Opportunities and Challenges in Online Learning during the Pandemic in India

Enforcing online classes during the lockdown due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic worsened the living and learning conditions of students from the most marginalised sections in India. Against this backdrop, this study seeks to shed light on the risk of the rapid adaptation of online teaching methods under extremely unfavourable educational conditions and poor educational infrastructure in India. The evolved system was entrenched in the existing social and educational inequalities that were exacerbated by ever-growing private educational providers. This almost limited the vulnerable group in finding choices of learning through the online mode necessitated by the lockdown. Traditional teaching and learning practices were implicated not only due to the existing social arrangements but also due to the shift to the online mode of learning with the adaptation of digital technology during the pandemic crisis, which has deeply disrupted the current educational scenario as well. Critical lessons learned from the recent catastrophic events will provide a political vision to outline an inclusive approach to designing sustainable educational planning and programmes targeting the most vulnerable sections of the population. This also reminds us that hasty and cosmetic solutions would do more harm to the poor than to the rich, thereby leading to everlasting damage to educational and social systems.

Trends and policy analysis: A case for sustainable transport systems in India

In this article, we analyse India's transport sector policy. The study examines the two important modes of transport, viz., road and rail, and analyses the efficiency of transport infrastructure from 2011 to 2019. Through Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), we evaluate modes in terms of the capacity of registered road goods vehicles and railway goods wagons, truck km/train km and energy consumption and corresponding freight traffic. The analysis gives valuable insight into the fact that rail infrastructure is more efficient than road infrastructure. Still, current transport sector policies promote energy-intensive carbon-fuel road vehicles rather than energy-efficient alternative transport modes. The study suggests the changes that may be incorporated in inputs to improve the efficiency of the road infrastructure. The Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)-Malmquist Index analysis reports the need for total factor productivity improvement in rail transport and the introduction of technological innovations in road and rail transport sector management. The study employs a well-to-wheel (WTW) based index to ascertain the energy consumed and pollutants emitted by freight-carrying road and rail modes between two leading business hubs of India, i.e., Ludhiana and Mumbai. The paper identifies policy gaps and suggests a holistic approach for need-based roadway investment and a time-bound development of railway infrastructure in India. Our study generates valuable implications for India's policy planners and government authorities and provides new insights to other countries.

Climate‐resilient water infrastructure in India

AbstractIndia receives an annual precipitation of about 3880 BCM and the average water availability is 1999 BCM. Out of this, utilizable water resources are 1126 BCM due to topographic constraints, distribution effects and so forth. In India, agriculture remains the principal source of livelihood for about 54.6% of the population. The overall water demand of the country in 2010 was estimated at 710 BCM, of which the water use in irrigation was about 557 BCM (78%). With limited water resources available for fulfilling the water requirement of all the sectors, it is projected that by 2050 our overall water demand (1180 BCM) would outgrow the total utilizable water resources, namely 1126 BCM. Moreover, the groundwater table in various regions of the country is seeing a decline at an alarming rate.Additionally, climate change poses significant and far‐reaching threats in all spheres of life and the economy. The erratic rainfall pattern makes a significant contribution to the frequent occurrence of floods and droughts in the country.This paper attempts to put in context the impact of climate change observed on various facets of water resources, the need to develop and invest in climate‐resilient water infrastructure, and to highlight several initiatives taken by the government of India in this direction.

Assessment of Its Implementation on Safety on Yamuna Expressway

With the promise of fast connectivity between Greater Noida and Agra, the Yamuna Expressway represents modern infrastructure in India. Amidst all this splendor, though, is a grave worry: security. In order to reduce hazards and improve safety standards, this article investigates the complex network of obstacles that has been encountered while implementing safety measures on the highway. Numerous accidents, including fatalities, have been a recurring problem on the Yamuna Expressway since its opening. The expressway's relatively straight and smooth construction makes it easy for drivers to speed and act irresponsibly, which is the main cause of these incidents. Drivers disregard safety protocols and speed limits with complete disregard for the consequences, which is worsened by the lack of effective enforcement of traffic regulations. The absence of necessary safety elements is one of the primary obstacles to guaranteeing safety on the Yamuna Expressway. Poor lighting, inadequate signage, and restricted emergency services are some of the initial shortcomings that have greatly impacted drivers' ability to navigate safely, especially in bad weather or at night. There have been ongoing attempts to resolve safety problems, but the results have been mixed. The expressway's safety infrastructure has been strengthened by the implementation of measures such as crash barriers, better signage, expanded CCTV surveillance, and more police patrolling. Unfortunately, problems with corruption within law enforcement agencies, a lack of staff, and limited resources make it difficult to apply these restrictions effectively. The Yamuna Expressway can only be made safer with a comprehensive plan. A culture of safety among drivers can be greatly enhanced by public awareness programs that promote responsible driving and emphasize the repercussions of reckless driving. Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) integrate cutting-edge tech to improve traffic management and accident prevention via tools like speed cameras, automatic toll collecting, and real-time traffic monitoring. The Yamuna Expressway is an impressive example of India's infrastructure, yet it will remain unfulfilled until the critical problem of safety is resolved. The Yamuna Expressway has the potential to become a model of safe and efficient transportation for the millions of people who use it every day if we recognize the problems, find lasting solutions, and encourage everyone to do their part to keep everyone safe.

Assessing Spatial Distribution of Health Infrastructure in India

In India, access to public health care is being criticised in terms of inequities in availability, utilisation and affordability. The role of private facilities is gradually becoming important in the discussions as it is expected to act as a substitute for the public health care systems. With this paradigm change, recent health insurance policies are also designed to cover expenses incurred either in public or private facilities. Therefore, the interplay of public and private establishments has a significant role to play, which positively influences the total allocation of resources. In this scenario, the most important is to examine the spatial distribution of two types of health providers to understand the prospective access of health establishments, whether they coexist, and whether private establishments are adequate to support the needs of the people. The study confirms the coexistence of health establishments, which means health establishments are not distributed evenly and form clusters. The correlation between public and private establishments is strong in urban areas, but it is inconsistent for rural areas. Moreover, findings suggest that existing insurance policies are only boosting demand for health care but are unable to minimise out-of-pocket expenses as health establishments are confined to certain areas. Therefore, universal health care has remained elusive unless the supply-side venture is achieved.

The puzzle of public health expenditure and healthcare infrastructure in India: An empirical investigation

This study examines the temporal pattern of healthcare infrastructure and manpower indicators across Indian states and regions between 2006–2020 using a composite index and data from various published sources. The study also investigates the monetary factors determining the quality and provision of healthcare infrastructure and manpower for India as a whole as well as for rural and tribal areas discretely, using a panel regression model and the generalized method of moments. The results show that economically advanced states, like Haryana and Maharashtra, do not rank highly on the index based on the healthcare infrastructure and manpower indicators; rural states with smaller populations enjoy better healthcare services. Inadequate public health expenditure results in a low ranking on the composite index and is reflected in the high infant mortality rates in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, though the situation is reversed in Kerala. The panel regression model reveals that increased per capita public health expenditure has not translated into improved healthcare infrastructure and manpower in Indian states or tribal regions within those states. The public health expenditure to gross state domestic product ratio is a positively significant predictor of healthcare infrastructure and manpower in rural areas. The panel generalized method of moments results confirm that developing targeted healthcare infrastructure and manpower in India as a whole, as well as for rural and tribal areas in the short term, has been poorly realized.

Abstract 26: Regional Inequities in Access to Stroke Facilities in India - Estimating Travel Distance and Times for Thrombolysis and Thrombectomy

Introduction: Stroke is a global health concern, with its impact more pronounced in low- and middle-income countries like India. The access to acute stroke treatments, especially intravenour thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy, is limited. This research dives into the regional variations in the distribution and accessibility of stroke centers in India. Methods: Data on stroke centers, including those capable of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and endovascular treatment (EVT), was gathered from pertinent medication and device providers and geocoded. We estimated driving distances and travel durations between population centers and their proximate IVT and EVT stroke facilities using Google Distance Matrix API, which provided gross estimations. We then compared the estimates across different zones to look at regional disparities in access to stroke facilities. Results: Of the 566 IVT-capable centers spread across 26 states/UTs, 361 (63%) were equipped for EVT. The average stroke centres per million (SCPM) population was 0.41 and 0.26 for IVT-C and EVT-C, respectively. Majority of stroke centres were located in the south zone (>35%), followed by the western and central zones, while the north, east and northeast zones collectively accounted for just 15% of stroke facilities. Median travel distances to IVT and EVT centers were 114 km and 140 km, respectively. Median travel durations to access IVT and EVT facilities stood at 3.04 and 3.46 hours, respectively. The median duration in the south zone for IVT-C and EVT-C centers was 2 and 2.5 Conclusions: The findings of this gross estimations a comprehensive view of stroke care infrastructure in India, highlighting significant regional disparities. The substantial travel times and distinct inconsistencies in stroke care facility availability underscore the need for strategic policy interventions and focused interventions, particularly in underserved regions.

Understanding patients' mobility for treatment seeking in India

Healthcare systems worldwide are grappling with the challenge of providing high-quality healthcare in the face of evolving disease patterns. India, like many other countries, faces a significant treatment gap for various curable impairments, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). To address their healthcare needs, individuals often relocate in search of better treatment options. However, no studies were conducted to understand the spatial mobility. This paper explores the determinants of spatial mobility for treatment in India using data from NSS 75th round (2017–2018). A total of 64,779 individual medical cases of different diseases were taken into consideration for our analysis. Fixed effect and multinomial regression models were used to understand diseases specific mobility for treatment. It was found that those with CVDs, NCDs, and disabilities are more prone to travel outside their district for medical care. Rural and economically disadvantaged individuals also tend to travel further for treatment. The key factors impacting treatment-seeking mobility include insurance coverage, hospital quality, cost of medicine, and cost of X-rays/surgeries. The study highlights the need for improved policies to address the gap between healthcare needs and infrastructure in India, with a focus on prioritizing the development of local healthcare facilities for disabilities, NCDs, and CVDs.

Economic Development, Technological Advancements, and the Expansion of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure in India

Economic Development, Technological Advancements, and the Expansion of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure in India

Multi-hazard risk assessment of rail infrastructure in India under local vulnerabilities towards adaptive pathways for disaster resilient infrastructure planning

“Lifeline of the nation” is the motto of Indian Railways as it connects through a common thread, billion plus population in one way or the other. The National Rail Plan for India – 2030 focuses on creating a ‘future ready’ Railway system by 2030 by suitably integrating new railway systems like high-speed rails. However, rail infrastructure is exposed to multi-hazards and disasters sometimes disrupt safe rail operations. This study explores rail infrastructure risk assessment at a national scale utilizing the UNDRR framework and synthesized application of geospatial technologies with a focus on disentanglement of local vulnerabilities of the rail infrastructure assets utilizing factors of health of bridges, visibility obstruction to level crossings, labour wages & their regions and GSDP under multi-hazard scenarios. The results revealed that the NR and NFR were identified as high-risk routes under the risk analysis of physical and social vulnerability scenarios, followed by CR Railways. The average annual frequencies of emergency cases in each zone show a correlation r (17) = 0.4758 with the combined mean risk ranks for each zone. In comparison to socioeconomic factors, which contribute to indirect losses, physical factors directly affect safety and contribute to direct losses. Further, outcomes depict more accidents on Indian Railways during the monsoon (nearly 50%) and cold weather (29%) seasons. The study suggests that with the participation of key stakeholders, including urban and transport planners, an integrated approach is helpful in identifying critical rail routes towards risk-informed adaptive disaster-resilient infrastructure planning for providing safety, continuity and reliability of essential rail services.

Strategic Placement of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure for Sustainable Mobility in Maharashtra

India is committed to reduce its carbon footprints massively by undertaking several projects. Central to this endeavor is the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020 which promotes adoption of electric vehicles and aims at forming a blueprint for electric vehicle infrastructure. But the biggest hurdle for a seamless transition into a more sustainable future is the placement of charging stations country wide. Unlike petroleum-based stations, current electric vehicle charging infrastructure is not so widespread. The objective of this study is to analyze and predict the optimal location for placement of electric vehicle chargers within the expansive state of Maharashtra. These locations are affected by several factors such as poor connectivity, poor power network distribution etc. The proposed solution uses a dual-method approach, giving consideration to a multitude of factors that impact these locations, thereby, to enhance precision of our prediction. A greedy algorithm is applied to process and evaluate the critical data. The evaluation obtained provides a foundation upon which further analysis is done by applying the Steiner Tree method. Through rigorous analysis we predict the optimal number of electric vehicle chargers in each district of Maharashtra. Our predictions align harmoniously with what would conventionally be considered accurate according to the real-world requirements. This study lays the foundation for future strategic blueprints for development of electric vehicle infrastructure in India which plays a pivotal step in a more sustainable future.

Linkages between Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) on Health and Health Infrastructure in India

Linkages between Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) on Health and Health Infrastructure in India

Development of a cost-effective optical network based on free space optical (FSO) and optical fiber links for enabling smart city infrastructure: A hybrid approach

Due to the gigantic rise in the use of high data rate-based applications and the ongoing transformation of Indian cities into smart cities, there is a need for a high-speed communication framework to handle the enormous data traffic. The radio frequency (RF) and microwave links seem to be incapable of offering sufficient bandwidth required by the data-hungry applications and consequently, the need for a more effective solution for tackling the issue of scarcity of bandwidth resources has become the necessity of current network infrastructure in India. In this study, a hybrid optical fiber-free space optical (OF-FSO) system for offering high-speed data services has been proposed to assist the implementation of smart city infrastructure in India. This study aims to inspect the system performance of the proposed model under the climatic conditions of mountainous, desert, flatland, and seaside regions of India. The proposed hybrid OF-FSO system comprises a fixed single-mode fiber (SMF) of 20 km and an FSO link (having a varied transmission range between 0–2 km). The proposed hybrid model can support an FSO link of 1.72 km for a fixed SMF of 20 km, corresponding to a bit error rate of the order of 10−4 for atmospheric conditions of the seaside location of Chennai and the range of FSO link varies from 1.32 km to 1.57 km for other locations of India, for the same length of SMF and bit error rate. Furthermore, the proposed hybrid OF-FSO has demonstrated a reduction of 30.8% in Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) cost in contrast to the conventional passive optical network (PON) system.

Smart food grain storage system using Internet of Things (IoT): A Review

India is one of the largest producers of food grains in the world. The country has a diverse agricultural sector that produces a wide range of crops, including rice, wheat, maize, pulses (such as lentils and chickpeas), and oilseeds. Rice and wheat are considered essential for ensuring food security in India. India has an extensive network of food grain storage infrastructure to cater to its significant agricultural production. The storage infrastructure in India is primarily managed by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), state government agencies, and private sector entities. Some of food grain storage infrastructure in India are warehouses, covered storage structures (silos), mandi storage facilities (temporarily store grains) and strategic reserve (buffer stock for food security). Private sector entities are increasingly investing in the modern storage facilities including temperature-controlled warehouses and automated storage systems, to improve storage capacity and reduce post-harvest losses. India faces challenges in effectively managing and maintaining the quality of stored food grains. Issues such as inadequate storage capacity, insufficient maintenance, lack of proper pest control measures, and logistical constraints contribute to post-harvest losses. The government and other stakeholders are continuously working on improving storage infrastructure and implementing technological solutions to address these challenges that tiggers for spoilage, mold growth, insect infestation and excessive drying. The real time monitoring and controlling of these factor during the storage period is a cumbersome task and needs advanced techniques. In this aspect Internet of Things (IoT) offers numerous benefits to food grain storage systems including real-time monitoring, early warning systems, optimal environmental conditioning, energy efficiency, inventory management, traceability and predictive analytics. By leveraging IoT technology, the industry can improve storage practices, reduce losses, ensure food safety, and enhance the overall efficiency of grain storage operations.