The Infrastructure Finance Secretariat (IFS), established under the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, organised an outreach workshop with representatives from the state governments of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh to expedite the implementation of infrastructure projects across the country.
The workshop was held in Mumbai on August 22, 2022. The Ministry of Finance said in a statement on Wednesday that this is the first of a series of workshops planned with State Governments and Union Territories and key infrastructure ministries to understand ground issues faced by project authorities when undertaking large infrastructure projects.
Ministers who made presentation
Senior officials from key infrastructure union ministries such as the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Ministry of Roads, Transport, and Highways, the Ministry of Power, the Department of Promotion for Industry and Internal Trade, and their implementing agencies such as the National Highways Authority of India, National Highways (NHAI) and Infrastructure Development Ltd. (NHIDCL), and Central
Transmission Utility of India Ltd. made presentations during the workshop (CTUIL).
Over 50 senior officials from the state governments of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh attended the workshop.
The Additional Chief Secretary of the State Government of Karnataka, the Secretary (Finance) of the State Government of Andhra Pradesh, the Secretary (Finance) and the Secretary (Planning) of the State Government of Gujarat, the Principal Secretary (Urban Development) of the State Government of Maharashtra, and Municipal Commissioners from major urban centres in the states were among the key participants.
The forum allowed State officials to interact with officials from key infrastructure ministries and their implementing agencies, representatives from the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and others to discuss issues encountered while executing infrastructure projects and areas where assistance is needed in their resolution.
Discussions on measures to improve urban financing options
The workshop featured panel discussions on measures to improve urban financing options, such as municipal bonds and state initiatives to boost financing, as well as discussions on the need for State Government-specific PPP policies and their readiness for the same. The Department of Economic Affairs also informed the state governments about the mechanism for utilising the newly appointed Transaction Advisors, as well as the mechanism for obtaining financial assistance under the funds and schemes for financial assistance to PPP projects.
A special session was held on mechanisms to supplement municipal financing, including ways to energise the municipal bond market. It was followed by a thematic session on the need for a state PPP policy to encourage private infrastructure investment.
The GoI ministries of Roads and Highways, Power, and Housing Affairs all actively participated in the workshop. DPIIT, GoI, and BISAG-N (nodal agency for implementing PM GatiShakti) presented on the need for and mechanism for spatial integration of state projects on the GatiShakti portal. States identified key bottlenecks and issues, which were noted by the relevant Ministry.
