We Need More Civil Engineers to Address India's Urban Infra Crisis

India must encourage civil engineering studies so that we have enough professionals for our needs

- NITIN PAI

Over the past few weeks, heavy rains caused flooding in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, Gurgaon, Guwahati and several other cities. Newly inaugurated metro stations, upscale gated communities, technology parks and arterial roads were flooded, causing economic losses and adding to the chaos that characterizes India's urban spaces. A couple of years ago, an online survey found that over 90% of the respondents across the country suffer from water-logging.

It is easy and correct to attribute the problem to climate change, rapid urbanization and corruption. There is another reason: India does not have enough civil engineers. We have been expanding cities and building a massive amount of infrastructure without trained, skilled and experienced engineers necessary to do a good job. We get highways with dangerous corners, roads that get jammed, flyovers that get delayed, and, yes, flooding in metro stations, underpasses and residential car parks. It is not an exaggeration to say that India is facing a civil engineering shortage crisis.

The Indian Roads Congress, a venerable national standards body, has laid out standards for roads, pavements, pedestrian bridges, storm water drains and dozens of other things. After going through these standards, I tried to recall instances where they are actually followed. Other than a few New Delhi neighbourhoods and some parts of Panaji, I do not think there is any place in the country that is built in compliance with those standards.