Current Affairs-Indian Economic Survey-2012-13:More than 900 Infra Projects Under PPP Mode

More than 900 Infra Projects Under PPP Mode

More than 900 projects with total project cost (TPC) of Rs. 5,43,045 crore in the infrastructure sector have been initiated till December, 2012, as compared to over 600 projects with TPC of Rs. 3,33,083 crore as on 31st March, 2010. These projects are in various stages of implementation. This seems to be a strong indication of the primacy given to the PPP mode as an effective tool for bringing private sector efficiencies in creation of social and economic infrastructure and delivery of public services. According to the World Bank report on “Private Participation in Infrastructure” (PPI), India has been the top recipient of private investment since 2006 and has implemented 43 new PPP projects which have attached a total investment of US $ 20.7 billion in 2011. According to the report, India alone accounted for almost half of the investment in new PPI projects implemented in developing countries during the first semester of 2011. The report also mentions that India continues to be the largest market for private participation in infrastructure in the developing world. In the South Asian region, India attracted 98% of regional investment and implemented 43 of the new 44 PPP projects taken up in the region. 

This seems to strongly reflect the favour PPPs have found in India. The PPP Appraisal Committee (PPP AC) constituted in January, 2006 has approved 307 central projects with TPC of Rs. 2, 97,856.58 crores. These include 242 proposals of national highways, 29 in ports, 27 in housing, 5 in sports stadia, 2 in airports, one each in tourism and railways. The Government also supports PPPs through its Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme under which 145 projects have been granted approval with TPC of Rs. 80,203.28 crore and VGF support of Rs. 156, 72.68 crores. Of this amount VGF of Rs. 902.96 crore has been disbursed. Furthermore, 51 projects have been approved with India Infrastructure Project Development Fund (IIPDF) assistance of Rs. 64.51 crore of which Rs. 25 crore has been disbursed.