Guys, this is a post specifically for the
Indians here.
We may not admit it but Indian growth story predominantly lies in its cities. This is good for the short term but if India has to sustain growth and the same momentum then, it is important to make Indian growth omnipresent.
I have lived in the UK for few years but I am getting back to India this August with an intention to contribute a delta amount to the Indian growth story. I long to hear stories where India can be a country that can bridge the gap between the rural urban divide.
Nothing stops me from sitting and working in a village as I like the village life. Even in UK, I have a house in a village. The difference is that I get the same facilities of the city in the village. From the broadband I use to the 24X7, 365/366 day power supply. However, if I have to contribute to deconjustion of the city I live in India, I have a problem. Just 3 months back, I found out about the power situation in a village 12 KMs from Bangalore. It is bad to say the least.
Broadband is not heard of or the speed of the internet at most display a Google search is 5 seconds but still called broadband. I know this is going to improve with 2G and 3G spectrum allocation and in the times to come.
My point here is urban infrastructure is welcome but we have to focus on all round growth and basic infrastructure in villages and smaller cities as the influx of people into bigger cities can be manageable. I would like to see bullet trains that diverge out from Mumabai and connect atleast 10 smaller cities. Same should be the case with Hyderabad, Bangalore, Delhi Chennai and several others that I did not mention.
Indian growth should focus on moving away from the cities that have a GDP more than the GDP of a few states put together.
Feel free to express yourself ...