Is Big 2020 vision merely a wish list?

The Big 2020 vision document, which is a blueprint for infrastructure in Gujarat, released by chief minister Narendra Modi seems to be an impressive wishlist of the state government.

But here are some unimpressive facts.

It seems the state government's own departments are unaware of the rosy plans mentioned in the Big 2020.

The Big 2020 document has envisage that by 2012 the state will see Rs3,385 crore investment in the health sector.

This includes a Rs200 crore medical university, Rs2,500 crore integrated healthcare township, Rs500 crore centre for excellence in life sciences, Rs100 crore centre for excellence in knowledge development and information among others.

But when asked, a top notch person of the state health department, who did not wish to be named said, "We don't know on what basis these fancy projects have been mentioned."

The person said the health department has no plans to establish a medical university given the fact that setting up a medical college is in itself a daunting task.

"There is no proposal from the government or the private sector to establish any healthcare townships. We don't know if the GIDB (Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board) has made any such plans but so far the health department has no idea about any of these plans mentioned in the document," said the source.

The Big 2020 vision document has also proposed a Rs30 crore retail management university, Rs50 crore aviation university, Rs50 crore COE (Centre of Excellence) in biotechnology, Rs30 Crore COE in water.

Many other such COEs and Rs4,000 crore knowledge corridor all by end of year 2010 also find a mention in the document.

The document has projected Rs4,435 crore investment in education sector by 2010 and Rs3,183 crore by 2012.