Private Sector Money Must For India's Infrastructure Needs

According to Crisil, ₹50 lakh crore is needed for projects till 2022

- Varsha Meghani

DAYS AFTER THE CENTRAL government announced on October 24 that it would spend about ₹7 lakh crore to build more than 83,000 km of highways by 2022 in what is the biggest highway construction plan so far, ratings and research company Crisil Limited launched India’s first ‘investability’ index at the Crisil India Infrastructure Conclave in New Delhi on October 26.

“It’s great timing,” beamed Ashu Suyash, Crisil’s managing director and CEO, referring to the index that measures and evaluates the investment attractiveness of select infrastructure sectors such as power, railways, aviation, roads and highways, ports and shipping, and urban development. Based on parameters such as policy direction, regulatory maturity, financial sustainability and implementation ease, Suyash intends the index to become a “credible national benchmark”, something that would help spur private investment in the sector.