Last year, India’s infrastructure made headlines for all the wrong reasons. In Delhi, the renowned IAS coaching center didn’t face a structural collapse, but something arguably worse—it was flooded. Yes, while students were preparing to become the future administrators of India, they were busy paddling through classrooms, courtesy of an overwhelmed drainage system. The very future of governance getting a crash course in water management.

Not far behind in the race for "most embarrassing infrastructure moment" was Indira Gandhi International Airport, one of the busiest hubs in the country. Instead of showing off the efficiency we love to boast about, the airport got a reality check during the monsoon, as flight delays and waterlogged terminals left passengers questioning if they’d taken a wrong turn into an indoor swimming pool.

But these are not isolated incidents—unfortunately, they’re just the visible symptoms of a much deeper problem. India’s infrastructure, in many places, is hanging on by a thread. And while the government continues to promise "world-class infrastructure" and "smart cities," what about the basics? Roads, bridges, drainage systems—those things are already falling apart, but the focus is often on new flashy projects that look great on paper.

Take the new Parliament building, for example—another ‘world-class’ achievement that was unveiled with much fanfare. Yet, just months after its inauguration, the building itself became the subject of ridicule when it started leaking during the monsoon. Yes, the same institution responsible for making decisions about the nation's future couldn’t even ensure its own building could stay dry.

The upcoming elections make this issue more urgent than ever. Political parties are already rolling out manifestos filled with ambitious promises, but voters need to ask: where is the focus on fixing the basics? Instead of being swayed by lofty visions of smart cities, voters must demand answers about crumbling roads, leaking roofs, and collapsing bridges. Infrastructure may not be glamorous, but it’s essential—and it’s time we held our leaders accountable.

Politicians love to talk about the future, but the future will be pretty difficult to enjoy if the roads leading to it are full of potholes and the bridges aren’t even strong enough to support the weight of promises. It’s time for both the government and citizens to take action. The government must stop making empty promises and actually prioritize maintaining the infrastructure we already have. Citizens, on the other hand, can’t just wait around for things to fall apart. We need to hold our local representatives accountable, report infrastructure issues, and demand better maintenance. It’s not about asking for new projects right now—it’s about fixing what’s already broken.