The Bharatmala network designed on the shortest possible route connecting the origin and destination, though a well thought through and definitely a step in the right direction, is bound to impact the existing network by directly competing with a few stretches including some of the existing BOT (Toll) road projects.

Stakeholders harp on the government's infrastructure push and expect construction orders of Rs.18 trillion in the next six years. This order inflow volume should support 12 to 15 per cent of industry-level execution of compound annual growth rate (CAGR).

The overall cost of expansion of the operational and approved metro projects under implementation is over Rs 2.5 lakh crore, and another Rs 2 lakh crore worth projects are in various stages of approval and are likely to come up for bidding in the next five years

In an exclusive interview to INFRASTRUCTURE TODAY, Debjani Chakrabarti, Director Highways, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) elucidates some of the key funding strategies being utilised by India as a part of the country's ambitious Rs 7 trillion roads building programme.

The initiatives that will have a direct bearing on the pace of execution include awarding projects after securing 80 per cent right of way, expediting projects stuck midway, delegating the power to grant forest clearances to regional offices, filing online for clearances to construct road over bridges (ROBs) and road under bridges (RUBs) and increasing the limit on sand mining.

The Railways has sizeable capex plans for the five year period 2015-19 involving a capital outlay of Rs.8.56 trillion. The annual capital outlay for FY2016-18 was increased significantly to meet the five-year targets. NITI Aayog has also finalised the three year action agenda (2018-20).

The Government of India has embarked on the Sagarmala Programme with a vision to reduce logistics cost for both domestic and EXIM cargo and utilise the waterways to their potential.

Over the last few years, the Government of India has rightly refocused attention on the shipping and logistics sector, and has recognised it as a key contributor to the development of the country.

Nandan Yalgi, Managing Director, Boxco Logistics India Pvt Ltd, lauds the efforts of the Ministry of Shipping in launching port-led development projects that will eventually bring down logistics costs across the country.