Govt signals capex push ahead of Budget with new three-year PPP pipeline

Ahead of the Union Budget, the government has signalled a renewed thrust on capital expenditure by unveiling a three-year public-private partnership (PPP) project pipeline aimed at attracting private sector investment.The pipeline spans 852 projects across central ministries and states, with an estimated project cost of over ₹17 lakh crore, of which around ₹13 lakh crore pertains to central government ministries.According to the Department of Economic Affairs, the pipeline is designed to provide early visibility of upcoming PPP projects, allowing investors and developers to plan capital allocation more efficiently.Roads and highways, power, ports and shipping, and railways account for the bulk of projects. Around 28% of road projects, 37% in power, 45% in ports and shipping, and 31% in railways are expected to be ready for bidding in FY26, underlining the near-term execution focus.Also Read: Budget flexibility hinges on nominal growth this year, economists cautionThe move reinforces the Centre’s broader capex strategy, with experts noting that the intent is clearly to crowd in private investment alongside public spending.For FY26, total capital expenditure is pegged at ₹15.48 lakh crore, including ₹11.21 lakh crore by the Centre and ₹4.27 lakh crore by states. Taken together, close to 31% of the overall budget has been earmarked for capex, underscoring infrastructure-led growth as a key policy priority.

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