Capex Package Expected to Boost Infra Projects: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

The central government’s latest capital expenditure plans are expected to boost new and ongoing infrastructure projects, especially in India’s industrialized states.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday announced ₹37,000 crore additional capital expenditure, ₹25,000 crore for the Centre plus 50-year interest-free loans of ₹12,000 crore for states. The latter can also be used for settling dues to contractors.

“If you look at the east coast economic corridor, Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor, multimodal logistics parks, state governments require a substantial contribution. Given that these loans are interest-free and will only require bullet repayment, it’s definitely attractive," said Arindam Guha, a partner at Deloitte.

States in the forefront of industrial development such as Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh will find it easier to absorb the central funds, Guha added.

India already has a large number of projects listed under the National Infrastructure Pipeline. “The problem all this while was of getting resources. The government has probably done a reassessment and it is comfortable with the funding, without expanding the fiscal deficit," he said.

Capital expenditure is generally seen as productive as it



involves spending on land, buildings, machinery, and assets for growth.

"Capital use has a high multiplier impact and raises current total national output (GDP) yet in addition future GDP, making obligation more economical. It will likewise give new push to the states and Center," Sitharaman said in Monday's virtual preparation. 

Nonetheless, it is not yet clear whether the extra ₹25,000 crore that is being caused accessible to can be completely used in the last two fourth of this current year, particularly given the limitations on the extent that can be spent in the last quarter, said Aditi Nayar, head financial analyst, ICRA. "The administration of India's capital spending in the initial five months of FY21 remained at ₹1.3 trillion, which gently followed the year-back level. Additionally, there was immense headroom left inside the budgetary distribution of ₹4.1 trillion," she said.

Though a break-up of the additional capex is unclear, the government’s decision is welcome move, said Deepak Thakur, partner at Delhi-based legal firm L&L Partners, since the long-term effect of such investment is expected to give the pandemic-affected economy a demand-side boost. “It is, however, equally important to have checks and balances in place, keeping the implementing agencies accountable for the taxpayers’ money," Thakur said.