India's infrastructure boom: roads and renewables surge

31 Aug 2023 CW Team

Mumbai: The infrastructure development landscape in India is poised for acceleration, with a projected 25% increase in road construction and a 33% rise in renewable energy projects over the next two years. This growth is being driven by companies capitalising on asset monetisation opportunities and reducing their leverage ratios, according to the assessment of credit rating agency Crisil.

Crisil predicts that road construction projects are set to reach up to 13,000 kilometres annually, a notable increase from the current 10,000 kilometres. The driving force behind this expansion is the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), which was introduced in 2016. This model has mitigated completion risks associated with road projects, thereby encouraging companies to actively bid for such projects.

Manish Gupta, Senior Director and Deputy Chief Ratings Officer at Crisil commented, "Investor engagement has been positive, with approximately Rs 750-800 billion being raised through equity and asset monetisation in both sectors over the past two fiscal years."

Gupta further stated, "Sustained emphasis on asset monetisation and equity mobilisation, coupled with robust cash flows, will maintain a balanced capital structure in both sectors."

Facilitating the ease of infrastructure development in India, companies are successfully attracting investors to invest in Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs). These financial instruments are backed by the revenue generated from the underlying assets. The assets under the management of road-based InvITs nearly doubled, reaching Rs 1.3 Trillion between December 2022 and July 2023.

Infrastructure Urban

13 Oct 2025

Daikin Boosts Haryana’s Innovation Push with Rs 10 billion R&D Plan

Japanese multinational Daikin Industries has committed an investment of Rs 10 billion to set up a new research and development centre in Haryana. The proposed facility will focus on advanced technologies and sustainable industrial solutions, marking a significant boost to the state’s innovation and industrial ecosystem. The announcement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Osaka, Japan, during a visit by a Haryana government delegation held from October 6 to 8. The MoU was signed by Amit Kumar Agrawal, Commissioner and Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, ..

Lloyds Metals to Build Rs 250 billion Steel Plant in Gadchiroli

Lloyds Metals & Energy Limited (LMEL) has announced an investment of Rs 250 billion aimed at transforming Gadchiroli in Maharashtra from a region once associated with the red corridor into a key industrial and growth hub. The company’s plans are centred on establishing an integrated steel production ecosystem, which will contribute significantly to regional development and employment. As part of its expansion strategy, LMEL is setting up a 4.5-million-tonne blast furnace in Gadchiroli, scheduled for completion by 2027–28, along with another 1.2-million-tonne facility in Chandrapur by 2029..

UPI Crosses 500 Million Users, Fuels MSME and Digital Growth

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has achieved a new milestone, surpassing 500 million consumers and 65 million merchants across India. The platform, developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has expanded its reach to nearly 99 percent of the country’s pin codes, underlining its deep penetration into both urban and rural markets. According to a report by NPCI and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) launched during the Global Fintech Fest 2025, UPI has evolved from being a digital payments mechanism into a key enabler of financial inclusion and small business growth. I..