Resource detail

Infrastructure is an emerging sector and will play a major role in the growth and development of India’s economy. Measuring infrastructure is, therefore, required for decision making purposes to improve the availability and capacity of existing infrastructure. Basically, two types of infrastructure are identified: economic and social infrastructure. The notion of infrastructure was extensively discussed in its report by the Commission. The Commission recommended six pertinent characteristics for identification of infrastructure sub sectors viz. natural monopoly; non-tradability; bestowing externalities; high sunk cost or asset specificity; non- rivalness and possibility of price exclusion. Based on these parameters a list of infrastructure sub sectors was prepared with a provision to extend it if more sub sectors fulfilling the criteria are identified. Presently six broad sectors of infrastructure viz. Transport, Energy, communication, Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation, Irrigation and Storage are covered under infrastructure. The first issue of the publication “Infrastructure Statistics 2010” contained data on infrastructure sub sectors classified under five indicators viz. accessibility, quality, fiscal cost & revenue, utilization and affordability. Thereafter, a manual on infrastructure statistics containing concept, definitions and classification of infrastructure statistics was also prepared. The publication is now in two volumes. While volume I includes metadata and key indicators of infrastructure statistics, volume II highlights the state profiles for each infrastructure sub sector.