“Ageing infrastructure is a ticking time bomb, especially when regulatory oversight and technical audits are sporadic”. Evaluate the systemic weaknesses in India’s infrastructure maintenance regime. Examine the need for a national audit of ageing structures. Suggest institutional reforms to mitigate risks.
Kartavya Desk Staff
Topic: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Topic: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Q5. “Ageing infrastructure is a ticking time bomb, especially when regulatory oversight and technical audits are sporadic”. Evaluate the systemic weaknesses in India’s infrastructure maintenance regime. Examine the need for a national audit of ageing structures. Suggest institutional reforms to mitigate risks. (15 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: IE
Why the question: On the morning of July 9, a major segment of the 39-year-old Gambhira Bridge over the Mahi River near Padra in Gujarat’s Vadodara district collapsed. Key demand of the question: The question requires identifying systemic gaps in India’s infrastructure maintenance regime, explaining the urgency and rationale for a national audit, and suggesting institutional reforms to prevent such collapses. Structure of the Answer: Introduction Mention the collapse as a warning and link to the idea of infrastructure as a depreciating asset needing oversight. Body Discuss key institutional and technical weaknesses in India’s current infrastructure maintenance system. Explain why a national audit of ageing public assets is essential from risk, economic, and technological standpoints. Suggest concrete reforms involving regulatory, technological, and capacity-building measures. Conclusion Highlight the need for predictive, not reactive, infrastructure governance using digital and institutional innovation.
Why the question: On the morning of July 9, a major segment of the 39-year-old Gambhira Bridge over the Mahi River near Padra in Gujarat’s Vadodara district collapsed.
Key demand of the question: The question requires identifying systemic gaps in India’s infrastructure maintenance regime, explaining the urgency and rationale for a national audit, and suggesting institutional reforms to prevent such collapses.
Structure of the Answer:
Introduction Mention the collapse as a warning and link to the idea of infrastructure as a depreciating asset needing oversight.
• Discuss key institutional and technical weaknesses in India’s current infrastructure maintenance system.
• Explain why a national audit of ageing public assets is essential from risk, economic, and technological standpoints.
• Suggest concrete reforms involving regulatory, technological, and capacity-building measures.
Conclusion Highlight the need for predictive, not reactive, infrastructure governance using digital and institutional innovation.