Transformation of Infrastructure in India: InfraConclave 2017

by Suman Gupta 

29^th Nov, 2016, Mumbai: InfraConclave 2017, an active forum for inclusive dialogue and engagement for all infrastructure stakeholders was announced today. The conclave seeks to deliver actionable intelligence for transformative progress and development of India’s key infrastructure.  

Speaking at the announcement, Mr. Rajaneesh Dasgupta, Secretary General, InfraConclave said, ‘InfraConclave is a platform to create an inclusive, purposeful dialogue with all stakeholders that results in actionable intelligence. It is not unknown that there is a huge dependency of our nation’s growth on its infrastructure. The Government of India has been laying a huge emphasis on participation of all stakeholders in nation building. With InfraConclave, our attempt is to bring diverse, but important voices from various segments of society to create actionable intelligence and support the Government in the endeavor. We are delighted that several industry leaders have shown their commitment to the effort.”

The first edition of InfraConclave 2017 will be held in March 2017 and will focus on key aspects of infrastructure, including Urban, Core, Rural and Empowering efficiencies. Few of the industry leaders who have committed to InfraConclave 2017 include Mr. Ashok Agrawal, Director & CEO, Essel Infra, Dr. Sumit D Chowdhury, Founder and CEO of GAIA, Smart Cities, Mr. Guy Perry, President, Cities and Strategies and Mr. Dev Ramchandani from Hitachi Consulting.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ashok Agrawal, Director & CEO, Essel Infra said, “We believe that infrastructure transformation is possible only through an inclusive approach. Governments, Private Corporations and Public need to align in an inclusive vision. Continuous outcome-based dialogue that engages stakeholders and delivers actionable intelligence is a progressive approach. I am delighted that InfraConclave has taken this as its objective. To achieve the developmental goals of an aspirational India we would require a transformational approach and a radical shift, thereby realising the sole dream of ‘One India’ and manifesting the wellbeing of human capital at its core

Infra Conclave would focus on an inclusive, integrated and sustainable development of India towards addressing core issues & challenges with people, public & private participation. The Conclave will create an ideal platform with cohesive and holistic approach to bring in the desired engagement amongst relevant Public Policymakers, stakeholders & larger industry participation. The forum would emphasize on building WISER Indian cities & villages through sustained efforts and aim towards improving the quality of life of people in India. 

The Platform will facilitate exchange of ideas & innovation which would co-create infrastructural value chain and favourable ecosystem through collective wisdom & leadership in the interest of all stakeholders. The platform would help in harnessing the trillion dollar opportunity by 2050 more than 50 percent of population would reside in urban centres. 

This forum would help us to achieve the economic, social & environmental wellbeing towards achieving the sustainable development of the country. It would influence an ecosystem to empathize the way forward with all the relevant stakeholders in association with the respective Government Institutions. The Forum pledges to provide all possible actionable intelligence for the transformative development of Infrastructure in India. Infra Conclave plans to achieve this by reaching out to all stakeholders in infra and engaging them in an active dialogue and strategically becomes the voice of the industry by and large. 

The inclusive dialogue at InfraConclave 2017 will bring together experts from various facets of infrastructure - from core infrastructure such as power, ports, railways, airways to waterways to urban infrastructure, including housing, waste management, water, sanitation and urban transport. The initiative aims to create a continuous dialogue to speed up the transformation of India’s Infrastructure.