New Delhi: With an aim to draw up a long-term roadmap for infrastructure creation and development in the capital, Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) has asked Delhi govt to prepare five-year capital investment plans.The move seeks to shift the city’s development planning, which currently relies primarily on the annual budget, to a long-term holistic plan.According to MHA’s directions, reports have been sought from Public Works Department (PWD), urban development, transport, health and family welfare, education, irrigation and flood control, environment and forest, power, industries, revenue, tourism, and training and technical education departments among others, an official said.“The departments have been asked to look beyond their immediate annual requirements and identify projects that could form part of Delhi’s infrastructure pipeline for the next five years. They will work on their respective plans by identifying areas where capital investment is needed the most and where such investments can create long-term assets that will improve the experience of people and improve their quality of life. The proposals will then be submitted to MHA, which is expected to hold a high-level meeting in the second week of Oct to review them,” the official added.Together, these departments are responsible for a large share of infrastructure creation undertaken directly or through agencies of Delhi govt.PWD is at the centre of Delhi’s public infrastructure push. It undertakes construction, renovation and improvement of govt buildings and other public assets, including roads and major structures under its mandate. The urban development department deals with civic and urban infrastructure development and coordinates with multiple agencies in case of projects that cut across departments.While transport department is responsible for creating transport-related infrastructure, health and family welfare department oversees govt’s public healthcare infrastructure like construction of hospitals and expansion and strengthening of existing healthcare facilities that require substantial long-term investment. Education department carries out capital investment in construction and expansion of schools and educational infrastructure.The irrigation and flood control department has a major role in flood protection and drainage infrastructure, which includes responsibilities like strengthening Yamuna embankments and maintaining several major drains.MHA’s involvement in Delhi’s long-term infrastructure roadmap is important because governance in the city is spread across multiple authorities, and this multiplicity often creates bottlenecks in carrying out development work.“Since Delhi is a Union territory, MHA is the ultimate authority for all agencies here. That’s why its involvement is not only likely to hasten the planning exercise but will also help in timely execution of projects,” said the official.
