The government is finally preparing to launch its first IDF this year, albeit with a $3 billion corpus open to domestic investors alone. Vishal Shah and Smit Sheth hail IDF as a good beginning, but contend that the definition of infrastructure needs to be sharpened.
FlashNews:
India’s Open Mobility Pioneer Takes Its Ride‑Hailing Model to Europe
NTPC, Africa50 Join Forces to Develop Power Projects Across Africa
NHAI Introduces Independent Design Checks for Major Bridges and Critical Highway Structures
SITA to Acquire Collins Aerospace Airport Solutions, Expanding Global Airport Technology Capabilities
RITES Dispatches First 18‑Coach Rake to Bangladesh Railway under Export Contract
AM/NS India Signs Pact to Upgrade Four ITIs in Andhra Pradesh under PM‑SETU
KONE Opens India’s First Digital Experience Centre in Pune to Drive Smart Building Innovation
NTPC Seeks Industrial Partners for 26% Equity in Co‑Generation Projects
India Businesses Advance AI, Digital Tools and Sustainability: Autodesk Report
Modi Opens India Mobile Congress, Says Nation Has Shifted from Consumer to Creator
Air India, Akasa Join IndiGo in Raising Fares as ATF Costs Surge 25%
Tata Power Partners with Norway’s Ocean Sun to Pilot Membrane‑Based Floating Solar in India
New Relic Rolls Out Infrastructure 360 for Faster, Smarter AI Operations
Inox Green Completes ₹5.5 Billion Acquisition of Wind World’s 4.5 GW O&M Business
Air India, Singapore Airlines Deepen Partnership to Expand Travel Options, Loyalty Benefits
Alok Tiwari Takes Additional Charge as DFCCIL MD, Pushes Tech‑Driven Freight Corridor Agenda
India Launches Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority to Cut Costs and Boost Connectivity
India’s Infrastructure Future Hinges on Making Projects Investable and Tech‑Driven: Deloitte Survey
FLY91 Expands Regional Network with Ceremonial Touchdown at Navi Mumbai International Airport
Infra Debt Funds: Creating new wealth
IDFs come as a new solution to debt finance to long-term, high-value infrastructure sectors. Eligibility norms for IDFs are rather stringent but justified given the risks and quantums-typical of infrastructure investment-involved.
Analysis: Balancing requirement and availability
While the gap in debt requirement versus availability towards meeting the 12th Plan target is enormous and requires focused effort to address, equity investors will now look for steadier long-term investments,
Banks should increase their size to participate in the huge infra lending opportunities
Corporation Bank’s lending grew 30 per cent last year, and its confidence in infra-lending is evident. The high growth will continue, according to Chairman and Managing Director Ramnath Pradeep.
Forecast: Credit to continue upward
The Indian banking sector has withstood the global financial turmoil and continued to grow at a healthy pace.

