Introduction
Infrastructure encompasses essential services crucial for industrial, agricultural, trade, and domestic activities. These services range from transportation (roads, railways, ports, airports), energy production (dams, power stations, pipelines), communication (telecommunication facilities), to social sectors like education, health, and sanitation.
Some classify infrastructure into economic (energy, transportation, communication) and social (education, health, housing) categories, highlighting its diverse impact on the economy and society.
Relevance of Infrastructure
Infrastructure supports efficient modern industrial economy and agriculture:
- Facilitates large-scale transport of seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, and produce through modern roadways, railways, and shipping facilities.
- Agriculture relies on insurance and banking services for large-scale operations.
Contribution to economic development and quality of life:
- Increases productivity of factors of production.
- Improves people’s quality of life.
Impact on health and well-being:
- Inadequate infrastructure can have adverse effects on health.
- Improvements in water supply and sanitation reduce waterborne diseases and severity of illnesses.
- Quality of transport and communication infrastructure affects access to healthcare.
- Air pollution and safety hazards related to transportation impact health, especially in densely populated areas.
The state of Infrastructure in UP
Traditionally, the government has been solely responsible for developing the State’s infrastructure. But it was found that the government’s investment in infrastructure was inadequate. Today, the private sector by itself and also in joint partnership with the public sector, has started playing a very important role in infrastructure development.
A majority of our people live in rural areas. Despite so much technical progress in the country, rural women are still using bio-fuels such as crop residues, dung and fuel wood to meet their energy requirement. They walk long distances to fetch fuel, water and other basic needs.
The data for Uttar Pradesh shows a significant improvement in access to basic amenities since 2001. This is likely due to a number of government initiatives, such as the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya scheme) and the Swachh Bharat Mission.
The Uttar Pradesh government is taking steps to achieve the challenging goal of turning Uttar Pradesh’s economy into a one-trillion-dollar economy in the next five years. To tackle this formidable challenge, the government has undertaken efforts to provide a ‘booster dose of investment’ to the economy this year.
Uttar Pradesh, previously the fourth-largest economy among the states of the country, has now risen to the third position, surpassing Gujarat. Uttar Pradesh contributes eight percent to the country’s economy.
Development of infrastructure and economic development go hand in hand. Agriculture depends, to a considerable extent, on the adequate expansion and development of irrigation facilities. Industrial progress depends on the development of power and electricity generation, transport and communications. Obviously, if proper attention is not paid to the development of infrastructure, it is likely to act as a severe constraint on economic development. In this chapter the focus will be on only two kinds of infrastructure—those associated with energy and health.
Energy
Why is energy necessary, and how do we find it? Energy plays a vital role in a nation’s development. Industries rely on it, and it’s extensively used in agriculture for activities like fertilizer production and transportation. Energy is essential for household tasks such as cooking, lighting, and heating. Imagine creating any product or service without utilizing energy – it’s practically impossible.
Sources of Energy: Energy sources can be categorized into commercial and non-commercial types. Commercial sources, such as coal, petroleum, and electricity, are bought and sold. Non-commercial sources, like firewood, agricultural waste, and dried dung, are considered natural resources found in forests and are not traded commercially.
Commercial energy sources, except hydropower, are typically finite, whereas non-commercial sources are renewable.
Consumption Pattern of Energy: Power Resources (Current Situation)
As on 31 March, 2023, total installed capacity of electricity in Uttar Pradesh is 31510.79 MW; under this :
- thermal energy contributes 25788.14 MW ( 81.84%),
- nuclear energy 440 MW ( 1.39% ),
- hydropower 501.60 MW ( 1.62% ) and
- renewable energy 4781.05 ( 15.17% ) MW.
Under thermal power, coal based plants have an installed capacity of 24295.00 MW and gas based plants have an installed capacity of 1493.14 MW.
The total installed capacity of electricity in the state is 6585.70 MW under state sector, 11511.95 MW under private sector and 13413.14 MW under central sector.
The total electricity generation in Uttar Pradesh during the year 2022-23 (April – March) increased to 136830.3 GWH as compared to 156223.8 GWH in the previous year.
The annual per capita power generation in the state is 112 KWH (2021–22).
The annual per capita electricity consumption in the state is 402 KWH ( 2021–22 ).
The number of fully electrified villages in the state is 97,814 (2019-20).
The combined total generation capacity of state, central, joint, private, solar, nuclear etc. in the state is 24,899 million units (24,899 MW) for 2021-22. This capacity has increased to 31,510.79 MW by March 31, 2023.
Comparison of Power Consumption & Installed Capacity : India & UP
- Power Consumption comparison Table –
| CATEGORY | UP (2020-21) | INDIA (2020-21) |
| 1. %ge of electrified village to total inhabited villages | 100% | 100% |
| 2. Per Capita Electricity Consumption | 634 KWh | 1161KWH |
| 3. Consumption of Electricity by Categories | ||
|
Industrial |
17.6% | 41.1% |
|
Agriculture |
20.9% | 17.5% |
|
Domestic |
48% | 25.7% |
|
Others |
13.5% | 15.7 |
- Installed Capacity comparison Table –
| SECTOR | UP
(31/03/2023) |
INDIA
(30/04/2023) |
| Centre sector | 13,413.14MW ( 42.57% ) | 1,00,055MW ( 24.0% ) |
| State sector | 6,585.70MW ( 20.9% ) | 1,05,726MW ( 25.4% ) |
| Private sector | 11,511.95MW ( 36.53% ) | 2,10,810MW ( 50.6% ) |
| Total | 31,510.79MW ( 100% ) | 4,16,591MW ( 100% ) |
Per capita electricity generation and consumption :
- Per capita electricity generation & consumption in KWH (2020-21)
| Generation | Consumption | |
| UP | 317 | 634 |
| INDIA | 1013 | 1161 |
Some Challenges in the Power Sector: Electricity generated by various power stations is not consumed entirely by ultimate consumers; a part is consumed by power station auxiliaries. Also, while transmitting power, a portion is lost in transmission. What we get in our houses, offices and factories is the net availability.
Some of the challenges that India’s power sector faces today are —
State’s installed capacity to generate electricity is not sufficient to feed an annual economic growth.
State Electricity Boards (SEBs), which distribute electricity, incur
losses. This is due to transmission and distribution losses, wrong pricing of electricity and other inefficiencies. Some scholars also say that distribution of electricity to farmers is the main reason for the losses; electricity is also stolen in different areas which also adds to the woes of SEBs
private sector power generators are yet to play their role in a major way; same is the case with foreign investors
there is general public unrest due to high power tariffs and prolonged power cuts in different parts of the country, and
thermal power plants, which are the mainstay of State’s power sector are facing shortage of raw material and coal supplies.
thus, continued economic development and population growth are driving the demand for energy faster than what India is producing currently. More public investment, better research and development efforts, exploration, technological innovation and use of renewable energy sources can ensure additional supply of electricity. Instead of investing in the power sector by adding to the installed capacity, the government has gone for privatisation of the power sector, and particularly, distribution and allowed much higher prices for electricity that have impacted certain sectors very badly.
| According to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), CFLs consume 80% less power than regular bulbs. Indo-Asian, a CFL manufacturer, states that replacing one million 100-watt bulbs with 20-watt CFLs can save 80 megawatts in power generation, totaling Rs 400 crore in savings.
LED lamps are widely promoted in the country to conserve energy. LEDs use one-tenth of the energy of incandescent bulbs and half as much as CFLs to produce the same amount of light. Energy Efficiency Services Ltd reports that the UJALA scheme, replacing incandescent bulbs with LEDs, could save 5,905 MW in power generation. This results in an annual savings of Rs. 4,000 for an average family, considering efficiency gains and lower replacement costs. |
Transportation
At the time of independence, state had a total of 15,113 km of paved roads, a number that has increased to 2,69,936 km as on March 2021-22.
Road Development policy/programmes/Institutions :
- The Lucknow plan
- The UP road safety policy-2014
- NHDP
- UP State Highway Authority
- UPEDA
- Taj Expressway
- Agra-Lucknow Expressway
- Purvanchal Expressway
- Bundelkhand Expressway
For more details see — Transport Network in UP
Health
Health goes beyond just the absence of disease; it encompasses the ability to fulfill one’s potential and serves as a measure of overall well-being. It is a holistic process crucial for a nation’s growth. Defining a nation’s health status in a singular manner is complex, considering the diverse factors at play.
Scholars gauge a population’s health using indicators like infant and maternal mortality rates, life expectancy, nutrition levels, and the prevalence of diseases, both communicable and non-communicable. Establishing a robust healthcare infrastructure is vital for ensuring a healthy workforce, essential for productive goods and services.
In recent times, there is a growing consensus that access to healthcare is a fundamental right, and governments bear the responsibility to provide it. Health infrastructure includes hospitals, medical professionals, beds, necessary equipment, and a well-developed pharmaceutical industry. However, mere existence of healthcare facilities is insufficient; they must be accessible to all. The initial stages of planned development aimed to make medical care, both curative and preventive, universally accessible regardless of one’s financial status. The question remains: have we realized this vision? Before delving into various health infrastructure aspects, let’s examine the current health situation in Uttar Pradesh.
State of Health Infra-structure:
| Items | 2011-12(No.) | 2021-22(No.) |
| Govt. Allopathic hospital & Dispensaries | 5096 | 5121 |
| Beds available | 84229 | 88281 |
| Ayurvedic hospital & Dispensaries | 2114 | 2111 |
| Unani hospital & Dispensaries | 252 | 256 |
| Homeopathic hospital & Dispensaries | 1574 | 1585 |
| Sources: UP At a glance (in figures) 2022 | ||
Education
Pupil-Teacher ratio (2020-21)*
| Primary | Middle | |
| UP | 29 | 24 |
| INDIA | 26 | 19 |
Recognised Educational Institutions in UP*
| Institute | 2011-12 | 2021-22 |
| Universities | 30 | 52 |
| Degree Colleges | 3553 | 7476 |
| Higher Secondary Schools | 19430 | 27806 |
| Senior Basic Schools | 76398 | 86430 |
| Junior Basic Schools | 155619 | 138078 |
*Sources: UP At a glance (in figures) 2022
Conclusion
Having good infrastructure, both economic and social, is crucial for a country’s progress as it enhances productivity and the overall quality of life. While Uttar Pradesh has seen improvements in infrastructure over the past 75 years, there are still rural areas lacking basic amenities like roads, electricity, schools, and hospitals. As the state modernizes, it’s vital to focus on high-quality infrastructure while being mindful of its environmental impact. To achieve this, the government is encouraging private and foreign investments through policies and incentives.
Infrastructure, such as roads and public services, plays a key role in a nation’s development. Regular updates are necessary to maintain a robust economy and attract investments and tourists. Rural areas need better facilities, and collaboration between the public and private sectors is essential for infrastructure investments. Energy is fundamental for economic growth, but the demand often exceeds the electricity supply. Exploring alternative energy sources can help bridge this gap. In healthcare, there have been improvements, but many rural and underprivileged communities lack adequate access. Women’s health issues, including female foeticide, are concerning. Private healthcare and community initiatives can make a difference. Additionally, exploring natural medicine and promoting medical tourism can enhance healthcare services in the state.