Page 157 - Abhivruddhi

93 in 2014. India plans to open 100 additional airports between 2019 and
2024. Capital expenditure for the Indian Railways has been substantially
increased from an average annual of Rs. 45,980 crores during 2009-
14 to Rs. 155,181 crores in 2020-21 [6] and it has been budgeted to
further increase to Rs. 215,058 crores in 2021-22. This implies five times
increase in comparison to the 2014 level. In addition, the extent of road
construction per day increased substantially in 2020-21 to 36.5 kms per
day from 28 kms per day in 2019-20, a rise by 30.4 percent as compared
to the previous year. The Government has also heralded a major boost to
the electronics hardware sector and brought in structural and procedural
reforms in the telecom sector.
India has become 3rd largest start-up ecosystem in the world after
US and China. Number of new recognized start-ups increased to over
14000 in 2021-22 from 733 in 2016-17. 44 Indian start- ups have achieved
unicorn status in 2021 taking overall tally of unicorns to 83, most of which
are in services sector. Effective implementation of Gati Shakti can help
rapidly expand the startup ecosystem in India, generating employment
and achieve more inclusive growth.
While Covid and resent conflict between Ukraine and Russia have
posed serious challenges, it has also opened doors to finding new import
substitutes, expanding export footprint as well. In FY22 India has achieved
goods export of over $400 billion, this is highest ever export revenue.
India has significantly improved its reputation, helping countries across
the global during the pandemic. India has expanded defense export 10
times over last 7 years. India aspires to become a net energy exporter
from currently being one of the world largest importers. Improvement
in health infrastructure, new education policy is going to have significant
impact on improving productivity and competitiveness in years to come.
Growing focus on governance and minimizing role of government
in execution is going to be the key and Gati Shakti can play a pivotal
role in achieving this objective. Integrated approach having central and
states governments, working closely is going to be critical to achieve this
objective. Citizens will also have to be diligent about promoting vocal for
local, try using import substitutes to extent possible and have their active
contribution in making this $5 trillion economy aspiration a reality.

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