The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank AII) is likely to invest $200 million in a fund of funds set up by India to take interest in infrastructure projects.

It is often pointed out that every rupee invested in ramping up the railway infrastructure benefits the economy six times over. Soon after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government came to power in May 2014, a committee was formed under Professor Bibek Debroy to restructure the Railway Board, the powerful body that oversees all technical and policy matters pertaining to the public-sector transporter. A majority of recommendations made by the senior economist at the New Delhi-based Centre of Policy Research was implemented. Two cross-functional directorates for non-tariff revenue and mobility, reporting directly to the Chairman of the Railway Board, were constituted. Powers were also delegated to general managers and divisional railway managers to expedite decision-making.

As a special purpose vehicle (SPV), the Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation (IRSDCL) is responsible for executing the largest transit-oriented development (TOD) programme globally for 600 railway stations.

In an exclusive interview, Najeeb Haider, Principal Strategy Officer, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) tells RAHUL KAMAT about the bank’s future strategies and the key sectors for investments in India.

That’s precisely the theme of Infrastructure Today’s next edition. If readers recollect, Golden Quadrilateral, at 5,846 km, touted to be the largest highway project in India and the fifth longest in the world then took several years to complete

Even as political opposition continues for the bullet train project from states like Maharashtra and Gujarat, Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal remains optimistic and does not see "any stress" in getting the land for the ambitious high speed rail (HSR) project, primarily on the increased compensation that the Government is offering.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is likely to invest $200 million in a fund-of-funds set up by India to take interest in infra projects.

Infrastructure growth will be at the core of Indias economic development as the worlds sixth largest economy targets to become the worlds third largest by 2028.

Ranked the No. 1 state in ease of doing business, Telangana is driving growth for a new India, as CW discovers.