Increased impetus to develop infrastructure in the country is attracting both domestic and international players. Private sector is emerging as a key player across various infrastructure segments, ranging from roads and communications to power and airports. In order to boost the construction of buildings in the country, the Government of India has decided to come up with a single window clearance facility to accord speedy approval of construction projects.

India is expected to become the third-largest construction market globally by 2022. India plans to spend US$ 1.4 trillion on infrastructure projects through the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP), from 2019 to 2023, to ensure sustainable development in the country.

The infrastructure sector has seen some major developments, investments and support from the government in the recent past.

In September 2022, the government approved rail-cum-road bridge across Brahmaputra river near the existing Saraighat bridge at Guwahati at the cost of Rs. 996.75 crore (US$ 122.27 million) which will be shared by NHAI & Ministry of Railways.

In FY 2022-23 (until October 20, 2022), passenger earnings stood at Rs. 33,838.16 crore (US$ 4.15 billion).

In August 2022, Mr. Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways laid foundation stone of six NH projects worth Rs. 2,300 crore (US$ 287.89 million) in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

In FY23 (until September 2022), the combined index of eight core industries stood at 142.8 driven by the production of coal, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, electricity and cement industries.

FDI in construction development (townships, housing, built-up infrastructure and construction development projects) and construction (infrastructure) activity sectors stood at US$ 26.22 billion and US$ 28.64 billion, respectively, between April 2000-June 2022.

In Union Budget 2022-23:

• The government has given a massive push to the infrastructure sector by allocating Rs. 10 lakh crore (US$ 130.57 billion) to enhance the infrastructure sector.
• The government allocated Rs. 134,015 crore (US$ 17.24 billion) to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
• The government announced an outlay of Rs. 60,000 crore (US$ 7.72 billion) for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
• The government announced Rs. 76,549 crore (US$ 9.85 billion) to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• The government allocated Rs. 84,587 crore crore (US$ 10.87 billion) to the Department of Telecommunications to create and augment telecom infrastructure in the country.
• 100 PM-GatiShakti Cargo Terminals for multimodal logistics facilities will be developed over next three years.

Indian logistics market is estimated to touch US$ 320 billion by 2025, according to a report by Aviral Consulting OPC Pvt Ltd. in association with Indian Chamber of Commerce.

In June 2022 Mr. Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways inaugurated 15 National Highway projects in Patna and Hajipur in Bihar worth Rs. 13,585 crore (US$ 1.75 billion)

A multi-crore inland canal transit project on Mizoram's Khawthlangtuipui-Tuichawng rivers would be constructed to serve the demands of the southern regions.

In November 2021, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Mr. Piyush Goyal called out to reduce the logistics cost by 5% over the next five years to transform the sector for further growth so that it contributes to make India a US$ 5-trillion economy by 2025.

The initiative ‘Infrastructure for Resilient Island States’ (launched in November 2021) will give India a huge opportunity to contribute to the betterment of other vulnerable countries in the world.

In November 2021, India, the US, Israel and the UAE established a new quadrilateral economic forum to focus on infrastructure development projects in the region and strengthen bilateral co-operation.

In November 2021, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a US$ 250-million loan to support development of the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP). This is a part of the US$ 500-million loan to build 11 industrial corridors bridging 17 states.

By 2024, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways aims to build 60,000 kms of world-class national highways at a rate of 40 kms each day.

India has set a target of road construction of worth Rs. 15 lakh crore (US$ 206 billion) in the next two years

The Mega Investment Textiles Parks (MITRA) scheme was launched to establish world-class infrastructure in the textile sector and establish seven textile parks over three years.

The future outlook of the infrastructure sector looks on track with pandemic easing out.

The infrastructure sector has become the biggest focus area for the Government of India. India plans to spend US$ 1.4 trillion on infrastructure during 2019-23 to have a sustainable development of the country. India and Japan have partnered together for infrastructure development in the northeastern states of India, and are also establishing an India-Japan Coordination Forum for Development of Northeast to carry out important infrastructure projects for the area.