LyrArc Article Gist
This discussion in WSJ brings up an important topic- how can America get the most out of its infrastructure dollars, make the $1 trillion infrastructure go a long way towards fixing the nation's dilapidated and crumbling roads, highways, bridges, and other infrastructure? The three experts point out that there is lack of coordination between different government agencies, between agencies and the private sector engineering firms. They are all working in silos with little connection to delivery times and delivery quality of end product. There is a lack of transparency at all levels of infrastructure work and spending, so that the end delivery and problems are not seen in relation to final delivery of end product, visible to all on one site. There is a third problem say the three experts in the lack of investment in professional development and training and technology for the people in the government agencies. 

The result is that the US with its higher costs for construction work and the delays for getting approval, and the bureaucratic hurdles, ends up with getting much less for the buck than other countries. Even a newcomer to infrastructure development if it gets it right can be ahead of the US. India is looking at the pitfalls of infrastructure development and eliminating hurdles.

With its Gati Shakti Master plan given the personal support of the prime minister India is correcting precisely these three missteps that are cited in the WSJ for the US infrastructure buildup. Under Gati Shakti all government agencies at city, state and federal levels fall under one umbrella to work in coordination. The focus is always on end product and delivery of end product. The siloing of projects is considered a serious pitfall and avoided at all costs. Transparency is considered essential and so is visibility in that at any time one can turn on a site and see where a project stands in its delivery date of end product. If there are problems they are put on the site so that all participants can see it to come up with solutions.

By doing this a country with fewer resources can make them go a long way to come up with the kind of infrastructure that is seen in rich countries with more waste built into the process.