Un-sustainability issues in PPPs for Infrastructure Development of India: A Triple Bottom Line (TBL) perspective

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The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) has been initiated by the Federal Government of India as one of its favored contract paths for infrastructure development. The primary focus of the PPP contract is on the economic and financial sustainability of the project. This results in giving more emphasis on the private sector's business interests and the tendency of financial aspects taking precedence over social and environmental aspects. Development of infrastructure through the PPP path, therefore, is concerned not to facilitate progress towards sustainable development goals, especially environmental and social aspects. The basic aim of this article is, thus, to conduct an empirical study of PPP practices for infrastructure development in India to evaluate key shortfalls of the practice from the perspective of the triple bottom line (TBL) goal for sustainable development. A grounded theory research approach through literature review and focused interviews was used to conduct an empirical analysis of PPP practices for infrastructure development in India. The study concluded that the current PPP practices for infrastructure development in India have failed to accomplish the goal of sustainability with the perspective of social, environmental, and economic dimensions for sustainable development. Finding from this study could be helpful to decision-makers and PPP transaction experts in formulating new approaches to increase the viability of PPP activities for infrastructure growth.