"This study is an attempt to summarise the status of development in each of the core sub-sectors of physical infrastructure in India, the inter-linkages of infrastructure with the rest of the economy and provide an assessment of the constraints and opportunities for growth. The sectors covered by the study include power, telecommunications, roads, railways, airports, ports and irrigation."

"The study is presented in two volumes. In the main report we provide an overall analysis of developments in the infrastructure sector and provide an assessment of the progress, constraints and recommendations based on a synthesis of overall and sector-level analysis. The companion volume, "Sectoral Perspectives on India's Infrastructure Development", presents a detailed description of the status and progress of the selected infrastructure sectors."

"Over the last two decades, fiscal constraints on the one hand and the potential for efficiency gains from competitive markets on the other have led to a sharp change in India's strategies for infrastructure development. The role for private sector in infrastructure building has increased substantially in areas which were earlier managed solely by the public sector. The transition has required numerous changes in the institutional framework, in policy and in monitoring of progress. There has been progress in attracting private investment into the infrastructure sectors; first in telecommunications, then in ports and roads, and in individual projects in the other sectors."

"The Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-11) projected investments in infrastructure development to the tune of $500 billion over a five year period. The current economic slowdown has cast some doubts on the scale of investments that may be possible in a short period of time, but there is a wide recognition that infrastructure development would be essential for sustained high rate of economic growth over a medium-term which is required to bring about the core objective of 'inclusive growth'."