From spending to systems: How 2026 could shape infrastructure

The coming year will bring regulatory streamlining, mega-project momentum and new financing models

- Subhash Narayan

The infrastructure sector is expected to accelerate its expansion in 2026, driven by focus on timely execution, private investment.

(MINT)

India’s infrastructure sector is at an inflection point. After four years of significant public capital expenditure, the discussion has moved from debating if spending should continue to determining how it should evolve. This is a decisive move from a spending-led approach to a systems-driven strategy, based on execution reforms, asset monetization, and corridor-based planning.

The sector is expected to accelerate its expansion in 2026, driven by a sharper focus on timely execution, private investment, corridor-based planning, and the green transition. The coming year will bring a blend of regulatory streamlining, mega-project momentum, and new financing models across transport, energy, and logistics.