Infrastructure Today | July 2008

5, BUT NOT QUITE HI5

Dear Readers
Chronicling the progress of a sluggish elephant on a road full of potholes can always be a testing experience. So it has been with INFRASTRUCTURE TODAY which celebrates the fifth anniversary of its existence this month.

This, a special issue, is therefore a labour of love. It has been worth all our effort because we would like to believe during the five years of the life of the magazine we have somewhat managed to tell the story of the pachyderm - an allusion to India Inc - as it trundles along the path to progress; somehow gently nudge it along the right course.

Oftentimes one watched in consternation as India cut loose defying all rules known to the developed world. But we are now happy to say that the elephant, rightly regarded as an intelligent animal, has now gained focus on the way it should go. It is perhaps, incidental, even a good thing, that it has been spurred into forward movement by the neighboring dragon. It is very obvious now that the only route it must take is
towards growth. Helping it grow are the mahouts of the Indian infrastructure industry. Therefore in this issue of IT we have attempted to pay tribute to some of the lead players who make up the core of the infra sector.

The issue is also about Power, something India aspires for, but can’t seem to quite get as of now. There is the dismal ground reality of the good old electric bulb going on the blink across the nation. Right now India Inc is on an inverter and the prospect of actually reaching the promised 78,500 mw by the end of the 11th Five Year Plan looks a tad difficult. To illuminate our readers in this regard we have presented profiles and interviews with some of the pashas of the sector - BHEL Chairman K Ravi Kumar and Power Finance Corporation CMD Dr VK Garg - for an understanding of the various problems and challenges. The gargantuan message that comes across from the interaction: A Rs 91,000 crore turnover ambition for the power equipment giant and a Rs 10,00, 000 crore funding challenge for the power sector Kubera.
Then, of course, there is the wise man himself: Dr Kirit Parikh, Member Planning Commission, to dilate on the gap between planning and performance. As he says with a trace of caution, “To what extent we will reach the Plan target is a question mark”
The oomph may be missing but we can take heart and seek light from the UMPP - the ultra mega power projects planned to go on stream soon.
Yes, it feels great to be 5, but it is not quite time for a high5.

Let’s reserve comment on the progress made by India Inc for the time when we can say, ‘We are a perfect 10’.
Hopefully that will happen.

God Bless and have a terrific read.