More highway PPPs on anvil; Capex utilisation to be fast in roads sector: Deloitte

Infrastructure sector experts are of the view that capital expenditure allocation of ₹10 lakh crore in the budget 2023-24 will lead to job creation in the economy. Speaking to Fortune India on budget proposals on infrastructure, Debashish Biswas, partner (Infra), Deloitte India, said that the ministry of highways is really performing well and a road sector ecosystem leads to job creation due to its impact on the overall logistics and transport sectors of the economy.

"Highway sector will utilise the capital expenditure really fast," said Biswas, adding that one of the key trends emerging in the highways in the renewed focus on the public private partnership. Biswas added that the massive allocation to the ministry of railways also points to the shifting focus of the government. The budgetary allocation to the highway ministry for 2023-24 stands at ₹2,58,605 crore, while the railway ministry has got a central capital allocation of ₹2,40,000 crore.