USD 575 bn investment opportunity in transport infra in next 5 yrs: Kearney

Transport infrastructure sector in India holds an investment opportunity of USD 575 billion in the next five years, according to a report.

Although the country has improved its transportation landscape over the last two decades, much remains to be done to meet the increasing demand now and in the years ahead, the report by management consulting firm Kearney said on Wednesday.

India holds an investment opportunity of USD 575 billion in transport infrastructure sector in the next five years, the report said.

"Roads and Railways constitute 80 per cent of the total investment opportunity driven by investments in flagship projects such as Bharatmala Pariyojana, Dedicated Freight Corridor, High Speed Rail, etc," the report titled ‘Harnessing the opportunities in India’s transportation infrastructure’ said.

However, it identified delays in land acquisition, clearance, constraints in funding for infrastructure projects, lack of efficient dispute resolution mechanism as key challenges in realising the investment opportunity.

“Significant opportunities exist in various transportation infrastructure in India, prioritizing the most important ones is of paramount importance.

"Although there are obstacles to realizing the vast potential, these challenges can be overcome with a concerted and coherent strategy across the key stakeholders: government authorities, concessionaires and contractors, and financial institutions,” Manish Mathur, Partner and Head Asia Pacific, Transportation and Infrastructure Practice for Kearney, said.

Outlining key steps for overcoming the obstacles and maximizing the opportunities, it said the government authorities need to focus on identifying the right funding model, ensuring robust cash flow management with comprehensive viability assessment, and enabling a vibrant ecosystem of concessionaires and contractors while designing their transport infrastructure development strategies.

The report said the concessionaires and contractors need to explore strategic partnerships, identify the right markers for decision-making, and ensure the quality and timeline of project delivery with the growing infrastructure investments and greater participation from the private sector.

About financiers it said: "In addition to re-evaluating the risk–reward spread in the infrastructure sector, financial institutions should collaborate with government authorities and concessionaires to develop innovative products for financing."

"With a concerted effort, today’s challenges can be transformed into an opportunity that will not only boost organic growth, drive job creation, and aid a whole gamut of industries but also help fulfil one of the most basic tenets of economic and social activity: mobility to serve the common good,” added Mathur.

Kearney is a leading global management consulting firm with offices in more than 40 countries. The firm focusses on strategic and operational CEO-agenda issues facing businesses, governments, and institutions around the globe. Founded in 1926, Kearney has been ranked among the top management consulting firms globally.

Kearney India is among the largest and fastest growing Kearney units in Asia. It works across industry verticals including Automotive, Aerospace, Industrial Goods, Transportation, Consumer Products, Retail, Healthcare, Oil & Gas, Metals & Mining, Chemicals, Communications, Media, Technology, IT & BPO, Private Equity, among others.