Advantage India
Robust
Demand
*India has to enhance its infrastructure to reach its 2025 economic growth target of US$ 5 trillion.
*India's population growth and economic development require improved transport infrastructure, including investments in roads, railways, and aviation, shipping and inland waterways.
Attractive
Opportunities
*Development of infrastructure has a multiplier effect on demand and efficiency of transport and increases commercial and entrepreneurship opportunities.
*In March 2024, Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi inaugurated multiple connectivity projects in Kolkata, totaling US$ 1.8 billion.
*In March 2024, the Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel announced inaugurating 15 airport projects worth US$ 12.1 billion by 2028.
*In June 2022, the Minister of Road Transport and Highways, opened 15 national highway projects worth Rs. 13,585 crore (US$ 1.7 billion) in Patna and Hajipur, Bihar.
Policy
support
*Budget 2023-24 is complemented with the continuation of the 50-year interest-free loan to state governments for one more year to spur investment in infrastructure and to incentivize them for complementary policy actions, with a significantly enhanced outlay of Rs. 1.3 lakh crore (US$ 16 billion)
*Under the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP), projects worth Rs. 108 trillion (US$ 1.3 trillion) are currently at different stages of implementation
*In November 2022, National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) is set up as a collaborative investment platform between the Government of India, global investors, multilateral development banks (MDB) and domestic financial institutions to facilitate investment across multiple sectors in India through an India Japan Fund.
Increasing
Investments
*Under Interim Budget 2024-25, capital investment outlay for infrastructure has been increased by 11.1% to Rs.11.11 lakh crore (US$ 133.86 billion), which would be 3.4 % of GDP.
*FDI in construction development (townships, housing, built-up infrastructure and construction development projects) and construction (infrastructure) activity sectors stood at US$ 26.54 billion and US$ 33.52 billion, respectively, between April 2000-December 2023.
Introduction
India’s high growth imperative in 2023 and beyond will significantly be driven by major strides in key sectors with infrastructure development being a critical force aiding the progress.
Infrastructure is a key enabler in helping India become a US $26 trillion economy. Investments in building and upgrading physical infrastructure, especially in synergy with the ease of doing business initiatives, remain pivotal to increase efficiency and costs. Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi also recently reiterated that infrastructure is a crucial pillar to ensure good governance across sectors.
The government’s focus on building infrastructure of the future has been evident given the slew of initiatives launched recently. The US$ 1.3 trillion national master plan for infrastructure, Gati Shakti, has been a forerunner to bring about systemic and effective reforms in the sector, and has already shown a significant headway.
Infrastructure support to the nation’s manufacturers also remains one of the top agendas as it will significantly transform goods and exports movement making freight delivery effective and economical.
The "Smart Cities Mission" and "Housing for All" programmes have benefited from these initiatives. Saudi Arabia seeks to spend up to US$ 100 billion in India in energy, petrochemicals, refinery, infrastructure, agriculture, minerals, and mining.
The infrastructure sector is a key driver of the Indian economy. The sector is highly responsible for propelling India’s overall development and enjoys intense focus from the Government for initiating policies that would ensure the time-bound creation of world-class infrastructure in the country. The infrastructure sector includes power, bridges, dams, roads, and urban infrastructure development. In other words, the infrastructure sector acts as a catalyst for India’s economic growth as it drives the growth of the allied sectors like townships, housing, built-up infrastructure, and construction development projects.
To meet India’s aim of reaching a US$ 5 trillion economy by 2025, infrastructure development is the need of the hour. The government has launched the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) combined with other initiatives such as ‘Make in India’ and the production-linked incentives (PLI) scheme to augment the growth of the infrastructure sector. Historically, more than 80% of the country's infrastructure spending has gone toward funding for transportation, electricity, and water, and irrigation.
While these sectors still remain the key focus, the government has also started to focus on other sectors as India's environment and demographics are evolving. There is a compelling need for enhanced and improved delivery across the whole infrastructure spectrum, from housing provision to water and sanitation services to digital and transportation demands, which will assure economic growth, increase quality of life, and boost sectoral competitiveness.
Market Size
In Interim Budget 2024-25, capital investment outlay for infrastructure has been increased by 11.1% to Rs. 11.11 lakh crore (US$ 133.86 billion), which would be 3.4 % of GDP. As per the Interim Budget 2023-24, a capital outlay of Rs. 2.55 lakh crore (US$ 30.72 billion) has been made for the Railways, an increase of 5.8% over the previous year.
Starting with 6,835 projects, the NIP project count now stands at 9,142 covering 34 sub-sectors, as per news reports. Under the initiative, 2476 projects are under the development phase with an estimated investment of US$ 1.9 trillion. Nearly half of the under-development projects are in the transportation sector, and 3,906 are in the roads and bridges sub-sector.
The Indian Railways expects to complete total revenue of Rs. 2,64,500 crore (US$ 31.81 billion) by the end of 2023-24.
India’s logistics market is estimated to be US$ 317.26 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 484.43 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 8.8%.
India intends to raise its ranking in the Logistics Performance Index to 25 and bring down the logistics cost from 14% to 8% of GDP, leading to a reduction of approximately 40%, within the next five years.
In December 2022, AAI and other Airport Developers have targeted capital outlay of approximately Rs. 98,000 crore (US$ 11.8 billion) in airport sector in the next five years for expansion and modification of existing terminals, new terminals and strengthening of runways, among other activities.
India currently has the fifth-largest metro network in the world and will soon overtake advanced economies such as Japan and South Korea to become the third-largest network. Metro rail network reached 810 kms and is operational in 20 cities.
At almost 20 kms, Mumbai monorail is the third largest route in the world after China with 98 kms and Japan with 28 kms.
FDI in construction development (townships, housing, built-up infrastructure, and construction development projects) and construction (infrastructure) activity sectors stood at US$ 26.54 billion and US$ 33.52 billion, respectively, between April 2000-December 2023
Indian logistics market is estimated to touch US$ 320 billion by 2025. The overall infrastructure capex is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 11.4% over 2021-26 driven by spending on water supply, transport, and urban infrastructure. Investment in infrastructure contributed around 5% of the GDP in the tenth five-year plan as against 9% in the eleventh five-year plan. Further, US$ 1 trillion investment in infrastructure was proposed by the India’s planning commission during the 12th five-year plan, with 40% of the funds coming from the private sector.
Government Initiatives and Investments
Some of the recent government initiatives and investments in the infrastructure sector are as follows:
- Under Interim Budget 2024-25:
- The Central government has increased its capital expenditure (capex) allocation to US$ 133.9 billion (Rs. 11.11 trillion) for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2024, with a focus on advancing India's infrastructure, as part of a strategic move to stimulate economic growth. An increase of 11.1% from the previous year, the FY25 interim budget allots US$ 133.9 billion (Rs. 11.11 trillion) for capital expenditures, or 3.4% of GDP.
- With a 37% increase in the current fiscal year, capital expenditures (capex) are on the rise, which bolsters ongoing infrastructure development and fits with Vision 202
- 7 goals for India's economic growth to become a US$ 5 trillion economy. In order to anticipate private sector investment and to address employment and consumption in rural India, the budget places a strong emphasis on the development of roads, shipping, and railways.
- India's ambitious plan calls for spending US$ 1.723 trillion (approximately Rs. 143 trillion) on infrastructure between FY24 and FY30, with a particular emphasis on power, roads, and developing industries like renewable energy and electric vehicles.
- Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi emphasized that India is committed to attaining net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, and that the country's ambitious goal of 500 gigawatts (GW) of renewable capacity by 2030 should be met. In order to make this possible, he unveiled a plan to raise the proportion of gas in India's energy mix to 15% by 2030, which will involve spending roughly US$ 67 billion over the course of the following five to six years.
- In Interim Budget 2024-25, capital investment outlay for infrastructure has been increased by 11.1% to Rs.11.11 lakh crore (US$ 133.86 billion), which would be 3.4 %of GDP.
- The government has decided to allocate Rs. 2.76 lakh crore (US$ 33.4 billion) towards the Ministry of Roads for 2024-25.
- A capital outlay of Rs. 2.55 lakh crore (US$ 30.72 billion) has been made for the Railways, an increased of 5.8% over the previous year.
- The allocation for solar power grid reached Rs. 8,500 crores (US$ 1.02 billion) from the previous allocation of Rs. 4,970 crores (US$ 598.80 million).
- The Interim Budget 2024-25 allocated Rs. 1,11,876.6 crore (US$ 13.5 billion) for the Department of Telecom.
- The government announced Rs. 77,523.58 crore (US$ 9.3 billion) to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
- Three significant economic railway corridor initiatives—energy, port connectivity, mineral and cement, and high traffic density—will be carried out by the railway industry. Additionally, in order to improve passenger safety, convenience, and comfort, forty thousand standard rail bogies will be converted to Vande Bharat standards.
- In the aviation sector, the number of airports has doubled to 149, and currently, 1.3 crore passengers are transported on 517 new routes. Indian airlines have taken the initiative to order more than a thousand new aircraft.
- As part of the PM Awas Yojana (Grameen), two crores more houses to be taken up in the next five years. Despite COVID challenges, the target of three crore houses under PM Awas Yojana (Grameen) will be achieved soon.
Investments
- FDI in construction development (townships, housing, built-up infrastructure, and construction development projects) and construction (infrastructure) activity sectors stood at US$ 26.54 billion and US$ 33.52 billion, respectively, between April 2000-December 2023.
- In January 2023, the Construction arm of Larsen & Toubro has secured orders for its power transmission & distribution and buildings & factories businesses to establish a 112.5MW Solar Power Plant in West Bengal and to construct a 600-bed super specialty hospital at Mumbai, respectively.
- Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to form L&T Green Energy Council, a think-tank comprising of eminent thought leaders, in a significant step towards building a global green energy business.
- In August 2023, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) and Greenstat Hydrogen India Pvt. Ltd. (GHIPL) signed an MoU for ‘Potential Collaboration Opportunities in Green Hydrogen and Derivatives in the Hydrogen Value Chain’. This MoU will help in contributing towards the country's 'National Hydrogen Mission' aimed at making India 'AatmaNirbhar' in this area.
- In December 2022, BHEL formed a consortium with Titagarh Wagons and is among five entities which have bid for the mega Rs. 58,000 crore (US$ 7 billion) contract to manufacture 200 Vande Bharat trains and maintaining them for the next 35 years.
- In December 2022, Mr. Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways inaugurated and laid foundation stone of 8 National Highway projects of 226 km length worth Rs. 1800 crore (US$ 217.4 million) at Igatpuri, Nashik, Maharashtra.
- In December 2022, Mr. Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways inaugurated 7 National Highway projects worth Rs. 2,444 crore (US$ 295 million) with total length of 204 km in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh.
- In November 2022, Prime Ministry of India laid the foundation stone of various road projects worth over Rs. 2200 crore (US$ 2.6 billion), namely Medak-Siddipet-Elkathurthy section of NH-765DG; Bodhan-Basar-Bhainsa section of NH-161BB; Sironcha to Mahadevpur Section of NH-353C in Telangana.
- In November 2022, Mr. Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways inaugurated the construction of 3.8 km long 4-lane elevated structure flyover at Ahmednagar, Maharashtra on National Highway-61 at a cost of Rs. 331.17 crore (US$ 40 million).
- In October 2022, Prime Ministry of India laid the foundation of road and ropeway projects worth more than Rs. 3,400 crore (US$ 410 million) in Mana, Uttarakhand.
- In October 2022, National Highways Infra Trust (NHAI InvIT), the infrastructure investment trust sponsored by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to support Government of India's National Monetization Pipeline, has raised a sum of Rs. 1,430 crore (US$ 172.6 million) from domestic and international investors through placement of its units, for part funding its acquisition of three additional road projects from NHAI.
- As many as 52 critical infrastructure gap projects identified by MoPSW for connecting maritime ports and IWTs (Inland Waterway Terminals) to be taken up under PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. Currently, DPR of total 56 projects (including 11 IWT projects) under this category with total of 1,215 km length are under bidding stage for the feasibility assessment of these projects, which is being carried out by NHAI.
- Budget 2023-24 highlights:
- For FY24, the budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Development of North-eastern Region stood at Rs. 5892 crore (US$ 711 million).
- Rs. 2,200 crore (US$ 265.5 million) allocated for Prime Ministers Development Initiative for North-East (PMDevINE) Scheme.
- Rs. 2491 crore (US$ 300.6 million) was allocated to Northeast Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS).100 PM-GatiShakti Cargo Terminals for multimodal logistics facilities will be developed over next three years.
- The passenger revenue is estimated to be Rs. 70,000 crore (US$ 8.51 billion), an increase of 9% over the previous year.
- In January 2024, the overall index of eight core industries stood at 164.5* driven by the production of coal, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, electricity, and cement industries.
- In June 2022 Mr. Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways inaugurated 15 National Highway projects in Patna and Hajipur in Bihar worth Rs. 13,585 crore (US$ 1.75 billion)
- In October 2021, the Dubai government and India, inked an agreement to develop infrastructure such as industrial parks, IT towers, multipurpose towers, logistics centres, a medical college, and a specialised hospital in Jammu & Kashmir.
- A network of 35 Multimodal Logistics Parks is planned to be developed as part of Bharatmala Pariyojana, with a total investment of about Rs. 46,000 crore (US$ 5.5 billion), which once operational, shall be able to handle around 700 million metric tonnes of cargo. Of this, MMLPs at 15 prioritized locations will be developed with a total investment of about Rs. 22,000 Crore (US$ 2.6 billion).
- A network of 35 Multimodal Logistics Parks is planned to be developed as part of Bharatmala Pariyojana, with a total investment of about Rs. 46,000 crore (US$ 5.5 billion), which once operational, shall be able to handle around 700 million metric tonnes of cargo. Of this, MMLPs at 15 prioritized locations will be developed with a total investment of about Rs. 22,000 Crore (US$ 2.6 billion).
Road Ahead
With a 37% increase in the current fiscal year, capital expenditures (capex) are on the rise, which bolsters ongoing infrastructure development and fits with 2027 goals for India's economic growth to become a US$ 5 trillion economy. In order to anticipate private sector investment and to address employment and consumption in rural India, the budget places a strong emphasis on the development of roads, shipping, and railways.
Global investment and partnerships in infrastructure, such as the India-Japan forum for development in the Northeast are also indicative of more investments. These initiatives come at a momentous juncture as the country aims for self-reliance in future-ready and sustainable critical infrastructure.
India, it is estimated, needs to invest US$ 840 billion over the next 15 years into urban infrastructure to meet the needs of its fast-growing population. This investment will only be rational as well as sustainable, if we additionally focus on long-term maintenance and strength of our buildings, bridges, ports, and airports.
As a result of digitalisation and opportunities that tier II and III cities present for economic growth, the divide between metro and non-metros is blurring, moving to the new era of infrastructure growth. Commercial real estate properties have witnessed exponential growth in demand across Tier II & III cities as Information technology and Information technology enabled services and banking financial services and insurance focused organizations are increasingly decentralizing their operations to adapt to the new normal.
The residential sector has witnessed good sales, and launches have also shown signs of an uptick during 2022, total sales in the top-7 cities was projected to exceed 360,000 units in 2022.
Civil Aviation Ministry’s “Vision 2040” report states that there will be 190-200 functioning airports in India by 2040. Delhi and Mumbai will have three international airports each, while top 31 Indian cities will have two operational airports each.
Civil Aviation Ministry’s “Vision 2040” report states that there will be 190-200 functioning airports in India by 2040. Delhi and Mumbai will have three international airports each, while top 31 Indian cities will have two operational airports each.
220 destinations (airports/heliports/water aerodromes) under UDAN are targeted to be completed by 2026 with 1000 routes to provide air connectivity to unconnected destinations in India.
India's Infrastructure forms an integral part of the country's economic ecosystem. There has been a significant shift in the industry that is leading to the development of world-class facilities across the country in the areas of roads, waterways, railways, airports, and ports, among others. The country-wide smart cities programmes have proven to be industry game-changers. Given its critical role in the growth of the nation, the infrastructure sector has experienced a tremendous boom because of India's necessity and desire for rapid development. The expansion has been aided by urbanisation and an increase in foreign investment in the sector.
The infrastructure sector has become the biggest focus area for the Government of India. India's GDP is expected to grow by 8% over the next three fiscal years, one of the quickest rates among major, developing economies, according to S&P Global Ratings. India and Japan have joined hands for infrastructure development in India's Northeast states and are also setting up an India-Japan Coordination Forum for development of Northeast to undertake strategic infrastructure projects for the region.
India being a developing nation is set to take full advantage of the opportunity for the expansion of the infrastructure sector, and it is reasonable to conclude that India's infrastructure has a bright future ahead of it.
Note: Conversion rate used for March 2024 is Rs. 1 = US$ 0.012
References: Media Reports, Press releases, National Infrastructure Pipeline, Union Budget 2023-24, Ministry of Commerce, and Industry
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