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Infrastructure: China's binge, India's boom

As the US struggles to fund an upgrading of its ageing infrastructure, China and India are ramping up spending to improve roads, bridges, airports and public utilities. The Straits Times' correspondents in Beijing and New Delhi report.

A worker repairing the Yangliandi Rail Bridge in Henan province. The bridge is the highest one along the 1,759km-long Lianyungang-Lanzhou railway artery. — Construction workers at the site of an expressway project that began last month, which will link the city centre of Qamdo, Tibet, to the Qamdo Bamda Airport, the world’s second highest-altitude commercial airport. PHOTO: XINHUA

The 55km-long Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the world's longest sea bridge, will cut the three-hour journey between Hong Kong and Zhuhai to 30 minutes. Construction workers at the site of an expressway project that began last month, which will link — A worker repairing the Yangliandi Rail Bridge in Henan province. The bridge is the highest one along the 1,759km-long Lianyungang-Lanzhou railway artery. PHOTO: XINHUA

Workers checking solar panels on the roof of a house in Zhejiang province. China overtook Germany to be world No. 1 in photovoltaic power capacity in 2015. — The 55km-long Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the world’s longest sea bridge, will cut the three-hour journey between Hong Kong and Zhuhai to 30 minutes. PHOTO: XINHUA

The 135km six-lane Eastern Peripheral Expressway, which will be inaugurated on Sunday. A worker at an excavation site operated by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation in Mumbai. Metro networks are coming up across India, including in the southern city H — A worker at an excavation site operated by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation in Mumbai. Metro networks are coming up across India, including in the southern city Hyderabad which is planning the world’s longest elevated network. PHOTO: REUTERS

A repairman at work. For decades, Indian governments focused on building up a social welfare system, neglecting infrastructure. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Labourers working on the construction of a flyover in Delhi. Better roads are seen as key to driving the Indian economy. — The 135km six-lane Eastern Peripheral Expressway, which will be inaugurated on Sunday. PHOTO: TWITTER ACCOUNT OF NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA

Lim Yan Liang China Correspondent In Beijing and Nirmala Ganapathy India Bureau Chief In New Delhi

Updated

Published

Apr 10, 2018, 05:00 AM

For road-trip junkie Mo Hao Yan, the dramatic improvement to China's road network has been a godsend.

"Ten years ago, I used to drive at least 10,000km every year in search of good scenery to photograph," said the 54-year-old, who is self-employed. "These days, I drive 20,000 to 30,000km a year, but I actually feel safer and more relaxed than before because road conditions have improved so much."

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