As India advances its economic growth and strengthens its global presence, embedding security-by-design into the infrastructure being built will ensure resilience, safety, and long-term national prosperity, writes Pushkar Gokhale.
The story of India’s transformation is inseparable from the story of its infrastructure. Roads, railways, airports, smart cities, digital highways, and energy corridors, you name it, these are not just public assets but vital arteries powering our economic engine and social progress. As the world’s fifth-largest economy sets its sights on becoming the third-largest within the next decade, infrastructure development has become central to the national agenda. Beyond concrete, steel and coding, security is an understated pillar of progress. As India builds bigger and faster, the need to secure infrastructure assets being created has never been more critical.
India is undergoing an infrastructure renaissance. Mega projects like the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, the Bharatmala and Sagarmala initiatives in road and water transport, trans-harbour links, and the redevelopment of more than a hundred railway stations are redefining connectivity nationwide. Simultaneously, the Digital India mission is laying the groundwork for a nationwide network of data centres, fibre optic infrastructure, and smart grids. The government’s allocation of
`10 trillion in capital expenditure in the latest Union Budget underscores the urgency and ambition with which the nation is moving. However, infrastructure is not merely about execution and engineering; it is also about preservation, accessibility, and above all, resilience. And in this regard, security must become as fundamental to the national development narrative as construction.
Building robust security frameworks
Around the world, developed economies have recognised that robust infrastructure must be matched by an equally robust security framework. Countries such as Singapore and the UAE have institutionalised security-by-design, integrating advanced access controls, AI-powered surveillance, biometric verification systems, and resilient emergency response protocols into the very foundation of their public assets. These are not reactive measures—they are proactive strategies rooted in foresight. For India, where physical and digital infrastructure are advancing in tandem, the imperative to follow this integrated approach is not aspirational, but necessary.
The threat landscape today is multidimensional. From physical intrusion and vandalism to sophisticated cyberattacks targeting smart cities, data centres, and transport networks, our growing reliance on interconnected systems brings new vulnerabilities. Neglecting security in the planning stage leads to exponentially greater costs—economic, operational, and reputational—at a later stage. The ransomware attack on the prestigious New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in 2022 served as a wake-up call, revealing how even institutions of national importance are not immune. When a railway station, airport, port terminal or energy grid is compromised, the impact reverberates through the entire ecosystem, disrupting not just services but also shaking public trust and investor confidence. To safeguard these assets is to safeguard the nation’s future.
Besides, there is growth in security. The Indian security market was valued at $8.77 billion in 2024 and, as the fastest-growing regional market across Asia-Pacific, this is projected to reach $16.97 billion by 2030, according to market consultancy and research firm Grand View Research. This represents a projected growth rate of 11.3 per cent CAGR in the five years, from 2025 to 2030. This expansion in demand is expected to be driven by increasing concerns over cybersecurity, rising demand for surveillance systems, and government initiatives to enhance security infrastructure. In 2024, the world’s fastest-growing major economy accounted for 6.1 per cent of the global security business. In terms of sub-segments, systems is currently the largest revenue-generating component, while services are expected to register the fastest growth during the forecast period.
We must fundamentally shift our approach and reimagine security as infrastructure. It must shift from an afterthought to a core design principle. As India’s cities grow smarter and our transport and energy systems become more integrated, embedding security at every layer—from architectural planning and system design to operations and maintenance—is vital. In this effort, collaboration between public institutions and private industry will play a defining role. The private sector must step up not just as suppliers of equipment, but as strategic partners in resilience-building. Meanwhile, policy must act as an enabler. Dedicated allocations for infrastructure
security within every public project, tax incentives for developers who adopt certified security systems, periodic security audits, and national-level certification standards for infrastructure assets—these are the kinds of interventions that can shift the paradigm. Furthermore, India must invest in building a talent pipeline for infrastructure security, creating a new generation of professionals trained at the intersection of engineering, technology, and safety.
Encouraging developments
We are already witnessing encouraging signs in this regard. The Atal Setu in Mumbai—an engineering marvel—is equipped with over 400 marine-grade security doors that are designed to withstand coastal corrosion and intrusion, demonstrating the integration of protection with purpose. In Delhi, the Common Central Secretariat redevelopment under the Central Vista project has incorporated smart surveillance and access control technologies, including bollards, X-ray baggage inspection systems, under-vehicle surveillance systems, turnstiles, door frame metal detectors, boom barriers and more. Even heritage projects like the conservation of Humayun’s Tomb have embraced access control systems that preserve while protecting. We have also been instrumental in leading initiatives such as the oil & gas major BPCL’s deployment of an Integrated Outsourced Workforce Management System across
140 sites nationwide that redefine security-focused digitalisation. Furthermore, the iconic Taj Mahal has enhanced its security infrastructure by implementing biometric access control systems for entry and exit. These are not isolated success stories—they reflect a growing realisation that resilience is no longer negotiable.
India’s growth is no longer a question of potential; it is a question of preparedness. In the coming decade, as trillions of rupees flow into infrastructure, the country has a chance to build not just expansively, but securely. The decisions we take today—whether through public policy, private investment, or urban planning—will determine whether our infrastructure can withstand the tests of time, technology, and threats.
A resilient nation is a secure nation. As India builds for the future, it must secure what it creates today, because a resilient nation is built not just on ambition, but on protection.
About the author:
Pushkar Gokhale, Head, Security Solutions Business, Godrej Enterprises Group
India’s Security Market: Rising Demand, Growing Returns
2024 Value: $87.73 bn
2030 Projection: $169.73 bn
CAGR (2025-30): 11.3%
Key Drivers: Cybersecurity concerns, rising demand for surveillance, government initiatives, etc.
Source: Grand View Research
Securing India’s Infrastructure Renaissance
A Changing Risk Landscape: Infrastructure faces evolving threats—from cyberattacks to climate-related vulnerabilities—requiring proactive security integration.
Emerging Threats: Data centers, transport hubs, and energy grids face new vulnerabilities as India’s infrastructure expands and interconnects.
Smart Security Adoption: Global models like Singapore and UAE embed AI surveillance, biometric access, and automated emergency protocols into public assets—India must follow suit.
Policy-Driven Protection: Dedicated security budgets, national audits, tax incentives, and certification standards are essential for resilient infrastructure.
Future-Proofing Growth: Investing in security-focused talent pipelines ensures India’s infrastructure remains protected as it expands with advanced technology.
Resilience as the Backbone of Progress
Security as a National Imperative: Beyond rapid expansion, India must embed resilience into every infrastructure project—protecting assets from cyber threats, physical vulnerabilities, and operational disruptions.
Infrastructure at Risk: The AIIMS ransomware attack in 2022 exposed vulnerabilities in national institutions—transport hubs, energy grids, and data centers require reinforced security measures.
Private Sector as Strategic Partner: Companies must go beyond supplying security solutions and actively collaborate in resilience-building across major infrastructure projects.
Technology-Enabled Protection: From biometric entry systems at the Taj Mahal to marine-grade security doors at Atal Setu, India’s flagship projects demonstrate security integration.
The Next Decade of Safeguarding Growth: National security and economic stability are interlinked—securing India’s infrastructure today ensures uninterrupted progress tomorrow.