+
Negative Outlook Continues For Infra Sectors
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Negative Outlook Continues For Infra Sectors

India Ratings and Research Limited (Ind-Ra) has maintained a negative outlook for transport, energy, and other infrastructures, in its analysis of Indian infrastructure and the finances associated with it for 2HFY21. The agency has stated that they maintain a pessimistic outlook of India's energy and transport infrastructure stemming from a variety of reasons, decreased demand being one of the crucial factors. The analysis revealed that there is a decrease in demand in several sectors, stemming from an extended period of suspended activity and reduction in thermal plant load factor and toned-down wind generation. Financial profits from the aviation and road sectors have also taken a beating, supporting the negative outlook of the India Ratings and Research agency.

In related news, tolls have seen a significant decline in fund collection. The likely reason is the fact that people have been stepping out less than before, when there was a period of absolute lockdown in the nation. Even now, there's a psychological barrier towards travelling. Yet, the toll fund collection exceeded expectations in the first half of September 2020, with around 90% of pre-Covid levels. The airport sector, however, came to a complete standstill due to the travel restrictions and widespread fear of COVID-19. Chances exist for long-term financial recovery, but it will partly depend on the liquidity factor of the sectors, especially when it comes to aviation.

In power and energy, the effect of added investments or liquidity enhancements schemes may be short-lived. Payables from the distribution companies in the energy and power industries may be looking at a marginal incline by the end of the year 2021. The sector is facing some operational weaknesses as well.

Additionally, India Ratings and Research Agency has a negative outlook on toll roads, and acknowledges that India is looking at a V-shaped recovery. "The recovery in toll roads has been swifter than Ind-Ra's original expectation. However, projects have displayed a varied trend of revenue recovery due to individual corridor-specific dynamics", the Agency states. Passenger vehicles contribute 20-30% of the entire assimilation, while the rest is commercial taxis/cabs and such.

Whether or not the roads and highways sectors can remain tenacious of all the financial burdens that come with the pandemic depends not only on the recovery of fund collection but also on the availability of liquidity for projects.

Additionally, unfinished Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) projects are under a lot of financial stress, and approximately 50% of such projects are behind schedule for various reasons--from reduced or blocked sponsored funds to the impact of natural calamities like floods and rains, pending approvals, and logistical issues. Thankfully, HAM projects usually come with a margin to fund excess costs.

For the airports sector, as soon as the national situation is better and travel and transportation get back to a normal state, people can expect the tariffs to be significantly higher, so that the sector can cover costs.

India Ratings and Research Limited (Ind-Ra) has maintained a negative outlook for transport, energy, and other infrastructures, in its analysis of Indian infrastructure and the finances associated with it for 2HFY21. The agency has stated that they maintain a pessimistic outlook of India's energy and transport infrastructure stemming from a variety of reasons, decreased demand being one of the crucial factors. The analysis revealed that there is a decrease in demand in several sectors, stemming from an extended period of suspended activity and reduction in thermal plant load factor and toned-down wind generation. Financial profits from the aviation and road sectors have also taken a beating, supporting the negative outlook of the India Ratings and Research agency. In related news, tolls have seen a significant decline in fund collection. The likely reason is the fact that people have been stepping out less than before, when there was a period of absolute lockdown in the nation. Even now, there's a psychological barrier towards travelling. Yet, the toll fund collection exceeded expectations in the first half of September 2020, with around 90% of pre-Covid levels. The airport sector, however, came to a complete standstill due to the travel restrictions and widespread fear of COVID-19. Chances exist for long-term financial recovery, but it will partly depend on the liquidity factor of the sectors, especially when it comes to aviation. In power and energy, the effect of added investments or liquidity enhancements schemes may be short-lived. Payables from the distribution companies in the energy and power industries may be looking at a marginal incline by the end of the year 2021. The sector is facing some operational weaknesses as well. Additionally, India Ratings and Research Agency has a negative outlook on toll roads, and acknowledges that India is looking at a V-shaped recovery. The recovery in toll roads has been swifter than Ind-Ra's original expectation. However, projects have displayed a varied trend of revenue recovery due to individual corridor-specific dynamics, the Agency states. Passenger vehicles contribute 20-30% of the entire assimilation, while the rest is commercial taxis/cabs and such. Whether or not the roads and highways sectors can remain tenacious of all the financial burdens that come with the pandemic depends not only on the recovery of fund collection but also on the availability of liquidity for projects. Additionally, unfinished Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) projects are under a lot of financial stress, and approximately 50% of such projects are behind schedule for various reasons--from reduced or blocked sponsored funds to the impact of natural calamities like floods and rains, pending approvals, and logistical issues. Thankfully, HAM projects usually come with a margin to fund excess costs. For the airports sector, as soon as the national situation is better and travel and transportation get back to a normal state, people can expect the tariffs to be significantly higher, so that the sector can cover costs.

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

UERC Rejects Pleas Over Cancelled 200 MW Solar Awards

The Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission (UERC) has rejected review petitions filed by 12 solar developers against the cancellation of Letters of Award (LoAs) issued under the state’s 200 MW Solar Programme.The scheme, launched by the Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (UREDA) under the 2013 solar policy, aimed to help Uttarakhand Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL) meet its renewable purchase obligations through tariff-based competitive bidding.The projects—classified under the Type I category—had original commissioning deadlines in 2019–2020, later extended multiple ti..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Solarium Wins Rs 266 Million Rooftop Solar Orders

Solarium Green Energy has secured two significant work orders valued at a combined Rs 266 million for rooftop solar projects across various locations in the Northeastern States, under the Ministry of Home Affairs.The first order, worth approximately Rs 129.8 million, was awarded by NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN) for the development of a 3,319 kW rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) project. This was tendered under the NVVN’s “Selection and Discovery of L1 Rates for Rate Contract for EPC of Grid Connected Rooftop Solar PV Projects (51–200 kW) across India”. The project is scheduled ..

Next Story
Real Estate

Omaxe Secures Rs 5 Billion From Oaktree For Expansion

Omaxe Group has raised Rs 5 billion in funding from Oaktree Capital Management LP, a global investment firm specialising in alternative investments, to fuel the development of ongoing projects and support future growth plans.In a regulatory filing dated 28 July, the company confirmed that the funds will support construction and infrastructure development across key markets, including New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Ludhiana, and Faridabad. The capital will also be directed towards flagship projects such as Omaxe State in Dwarka, an upcoming integrated township in Amritsar, and a new township in Indor..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?