The 4th KPMG-Infrastructure Today Awards 2011

01 Jan 2012 CW Staff

The awards not only commemorated industry leaders but also sought answers to deal with the global downswing.

Date: December 09, 2011
Venue: New Delhi
Organiser: ASAPP Media Information Group.

It is said that adversity brings out the best in a human being. Its only when the going gets tough, that people seem to wake up from their laxity, raise questions and seek solutions. This was particularly evident at the 4th KPMG-Infrastructure Today Awards held in New Delhi on December 9, 2011. Every attendee at the event was in search of a solution to deal with the current situation plaguing the industry. And, leading the pack was Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission of India and Chief Guest for the evening, who raised some pertinent questions: "Which is the most progressive state in infrastructure?", "Where are the problem areas?", "Is desalination feasible in states where power is a problem?", "What do you think will happen?", etc.

Providing insights: The awards were thus an effort to tap the pulse of the industry and provide independent insights and opinions from the leaders of infrastructure sectors. The insight-seeking exercise aimed to inspire the industry currently reeling under the effects of the global downturn, to get going. Awards were given to PPP projects in transport, urban infrastructure, central, state agencies and financiers. The highlights of the ceremony were 'The PPP Project of the Year' and 'Special Awards', conferred on The Aurangabad Water Supply Project and Power Finance Corporation, respectively.

Noteworthy effort: Speaking on the occasion, Ahluwalia favoured the competitive bidding mode for the PPP route. He complimented NHAI for the quality of bids they received this year. "I am pleased that the state governments, too, have started adopting the PPP mode of delivery," he said. "Ten years ago, I wouldn't have been able to fill a room with investors in our infrastructure. Today's gathering, on the other hand, represents the growth PPPs have achieved over the decade. So, I'd like to compliment INFRASTRUCTURE TODAY and KPMG for instituting these awards in the important area of PPP," he averred.

Need for PPPs: Further stating that the government won't be able to meet the huge needs of infrastructure alone, Ahluwalia stressed upon the increasing need for PPPs today. "We have done reasonably well - not as well as we would've liked to in the Eleventh Plan, but the increase in PPP is quite impressive as we enter the Twelfth Plan period from April 2012. I believe the vibrancy of the infrastructure sector will continue. We're in transition between a co-mpletely government-owned infrastructure to a situation where we seek half the sector to be owned by the private sector. We have to recognise the transition bottlenecks. It is much easier to deal with the public sector than the private. The government's objective of a sort of 'rob Peter to pay Paul' is at work, and nobody minds very much. But, with the private sector in partnership, there is an enormous need for much due diligence because it is as easy to explain away. Are the PPPs gaining public focus on whether those projects are observing the terms and conditions under which they are brought in?" he asked. Ahluwalia concluded by saying that a lot of work still needs to be done in advance to get the terms and conditions right.

The awards not only commemorated industry leaders but also sought answers to deal with the global downswing.Date: December 09, 2011Venue: New DelhiOrganiser: ASAPP Media Information Group.It is said that adversity brings out the best in a human being. Its only when the going gets tough, that people seem to wake up from their laxity, raise questions and seek solutions. This was particularly evident at the 4th KPMG-Infrastructure Today Awards held in New Delhi on December 9, 2011. Every attendee at the event was in search of a solution to deal with the current situation plaguing the industry. And, leading the pack was Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission of India and Chief Guest for the evening, who raised some pertinent questions: Which is the most progressive state in infrastructure?, Where are the problem areas?, Is desalination feasible in states where power is a problem?, What do you think will happen?, etc.Providing insights: The awards were thus an effort to tap the pulse of the industry and provide independent insights and opinions from the leaders of infrastructure sectors. The insight-seeking exercise aimed to inspire the industry currently reeling under the effects of the global downturn, to get going. Awards were given to PPP projects in transport, urban infrastructure, central, state agencies and financiers. The highlights of the ceremony were 'The PPP Project of the Year' and 'Special Awards', conferred on The Aurangabad Water Supply Project and Power Finance Corporation, respectively.Noteworthy effort: Speaking on the occasion, Ahluwalia favoured the competitive bidding mode for the PPP route. He complimented NHAI for the quality of bids they received this year. I am pleased that the state governments, too, have started adopting the PPP mode of delivery, he said. Ten years ago, I wouldn't have been able to fill a room with investors in our infrastructure. Today's gathering, on the other hand, represents the growth PPPs have achieved over the decade. So, I'd like to compliment INFRASTRUCTURE TODAY and KPMG for instituting these awards in the important area of PPP, he averred.Need for PPPs: Further stating that the government won't be able to meet the huge needs of infrastructure alone, Ahluwalia stressed upon the increasing need for PPPs today. We have done reasonably well - not as well as we would've liked to in the Eleventh Plan, but the increase in PPP is quite impressive as we enter the Twelfth Plan period from April 2012. I believe the vibrancy of the infrastructure sector will continue. We're in transition between a co-mpletely government-owned infrastructure to a situation where we seek half the sector to be owned by the private sector. We have to recognise the transition bottlenecks. It is much easier to deal with the public sector than the private. The government's objective of a sort of 'rob Peter to pay Paul' is at work, and nobody minds very much. But, with the private sector in partnership, there is an enormous need for much due diligence because it is as easy to explain away. Are the PPPs gaining public focus on whether those projects are observing the terms and conditions under which they are brought in? he asked. Ahluwalia concluded by saying that a lot of work still needs to be done in advance to get the terms and conditions right.