NFRA Projects Show Rs 5.52 tn Cost Overrun in January

02 Mar 2026 CW Team

The remaining 149 projects, representing nine per cent of the project count, carried a combined revised cost of Rs 3.98 trillion (tn), equal to 10 per cent of the aggregated value, and were spread across higher education, civil aviation, steel, telecommunications, labour and employment, ports, shipping and waterways, health and family welfare, mines, DPIIT and sports. This spread underlines the cross-ministerial nature of the programme.

Transport and logistics accounted for the largest share of revised costs, amounting to Rs 20.65 trillion (tn) across 1,180 projects. The energy sector followed with Rs 10.84 trillion (tn) across 218 projects, representing 28 per cent of the aggregated revised cost, and thus drove a significant portion of the aggregate increase.

Communication infrastructure projects had a combined revised cost of Rs 2.74 trillion (tn) across 14 projects, while water and sanitation projects accounted for Rs 2.03 trillion (tn) across 70 projects. Social and commercial infrastructure comprised 74 projects with a revised cost of Rs 0.79 trillion (tn), and projects classified as others totalled Rs 2.18 trillion (tn) across 146 projects.

Three projects were commissioned during January 2026, including major works in the railway, power and petroleum and natural gas sectors. Notable commissioned schemes included the third railway line of 291 km between Patratu and Sonnagar with a revised cost of Rs 89.75 billion (bn), and a transmission scheme for evacuation of a 4.5 gigawatt (GW) injection at Khavda PS under Phase II?Part C valued at Rs 28.21 billion (bn). The commissioning activity was presented as part of ongoing efforts to speed project delivery.

A government report showed that NFRA projects recorded a cost overrun of Rs 5.52 trillion (tn) in January. The figures were published in the latest NFRA monthly update compiled by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The overrun reflected revised project costs across multiple ministries and sectors. The remaining 149 projects, representing nine per cent of the project count, carried a combined revised cost of Rs 3.98 trillion (tn), equal to 10 per cent of the aggregated value, and were spread across higher education, civil aviation, steel, telecommunications, labour and employment, ports, shipping and waterways, health and family welfare, mines, DPIIT and sports. This spread underlines the cross-ministerial nature of the programme. Transport and logistics accounted for the largest share of revised costs, amounting to Rs 20.65 trillion (tn) across 1,180 projects. The energy sector followed with Rs 10.84 trillion (tn) across 218 projects, representing 28 per cent of the aggregated revised cost, and thus drove a significant portion of the aggregate increase. Communication infrastructure projects had a combined revised cost of Rs 2.74 trillion (tn) across 14 projects, while water and sanitation projects accounted for Rs 2.03 trillion (tn) across 70 projects. Social and commercial infrastructure comprised 74 projects with a revised cost of Rs 0.79 trillion (tn), and projects classified as others totalled Rs 2.18 trillion (tn) across 146 projects. Three projects were commissioned during January 2026, including major works in the railway, power and petroleum and natural gas sectors. Notable commissioned schemes included the third railway line of 291 km between Patratu and Sonnagar with a revised cost of Rs 89.75 billion (bn), and a transmission scheme for evacuation of a 4.5 gigawatt (GW) injection at Khavda PS under Phase II?Part C valued at Rs 28.21 billion (bn). The commissioning activity was presented as part of ongoing efforts to speed project delivery.

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