Infrastructure Projects In India Research Articles

Evaluation of social risks in large-scale infrastructure projects in India – a comparative study using relational and traditional approaches

Large-scale infrastructure projects (LSIPs) are characterized by huge costs, high complexity, a high propensity for risks, and a long-lasting impact on the environment and society. While past researchers have extensively studied project risk and associated issues, much less is explored about social risks, a particular category of risks rooted in the social contexts of the LSIPs. The gap is starker in the context of developing countries. To address this gap in knowledge, a network analysis approach is used to explore various social risks and their interdependencies in LSIPs in India. Data was collected from 23 risk management experts working in Indian LSIPs through a matrix-based questionnaire and subsequent interviews. A Social network analysis (SNA) of the social risk interactions identified labor unrest, environmental pollution, and public resistance as the most critical in LSIPs. The SNA-based risk criticality scores were also compared with the traditional probability-impact-based risk perception scores, and divergence of the results was observed. The study concludes by suggesting an actionable social-risk mitigation framework. The findings provide insights on the social risk interaction patterns and emphasize the importance of taking a relational perspective in conjunction with the traditional probability-impact-based view while assessing such risks in LSIPs.

Leadership development through 360-degree multi-rater feedback—An experience sharing of need, approach, roll-out, and the impact

The organizational development (OD) interventions carried out by the assessment center identifying the competencies becomes effective only if the expectation of the stakeholders is met. A 360-degree multipurpose intervention is to assess and develop project director’s leadership capabilities and enable them to execute Mega Infrastructure Projects in India executed by Larsen and Toubro, the leading engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) players of India. Implementing such Mega Projects by maintaining time, cost, safety, and quality parameters require leadership skills of high order. To meet out this requirement implementation partner interacted with few project directors from each business verticals such as nuclear, hydel, metro, defense, special bridges and ports and harbor, to understand the role holders’ challenges and the expectations. L&T Heavy Civil Infrastructure (HCI) Leadership Competency framework was thus drafted looking into the role intensity and specific role-based challenges of the Mega Project Leaders. The questionnaires were designed to cover all dimensions and sub dimensions of 8 competencies, covering 40 behavioral Indicators. the questionnaires were hosted on the online platform to including self, supervisor, direct repartees, peers, customers, and other stakeholders. Validation to the assessment of each dimension and sub-dimensions as qualitative feedback is done with simple average scores and the range. The study found that execution leadership was the highest rated competency followed by customer engagement and talent management. The study also found that strategic orientation and decision making were rated low compared to other competencies, got validated by comments of customers as well. This is quite evident from the feedback that was taken after 9 months of the intervention. The study by using Delphi technique revealed that by providing feedback from all stakeholders supported by systematic coaching, 88% participants showed improvement in the low rated items. The study further proved that with proper feedback and coaching at an individual level with required trust and keeping development as the core agenda and without linking to any other HR processes like appraisal and promotion, majority of the participants took full ownership, interest and worked on their individual competency development showing their learning agility.

A Critical Review of the Proposed Hyperloop (Ultra-High-Speed Rail) Project between Mumbai and Pune and Its Broader Implications for Sustainable Mobility in Indian Cities

This review paper examines the appropriateness of a hyperloop line between Mumbai and Pune in India, examining, in particular, its potential economic implications and impact on people. This assessment builds on an earlier in-depth examination by the authors of the key urban and transport planning, technical, environmental, economic and human factors surrounding the hyperloop technology. The current detailed analysis of hyperloop’s expected implications in the Mumbai to Pune corridor is based upon use of a wide variety of existing indicative data from many sources, which are sufficient to provide a very broad “first-step” reality testing of hyperloop’s suitability to India. It could be argued that this is precisely the kind of analysis that should have been conducted, or at least made public, prior to committing to hyperloop in India. The paper highlights many negatives concerning hyperloop’s construction and operation, including a very high capital cost compared to other needed urban transport infrastructure projects in India, a potential lack of patronage due to a range of factors and its potentially exclusive upper income patronage cohort. It is concluded that rather than making a costly mistake, India should address current urban mobility challenges and needs such as bus rapid transit (BRT) and metros in its innumerable cities, whose construction costs are vastly lower than the expected cost of a single hyperloop line. Technology, such as the hyperloop, would need time to mature and gain operational experience. Should any corridor be found suitable, there would still need to be a thorough, detailed benefit–cost analysis together with a dedicated examination of the technology’s broader urban planning implications and less tangible factors. Setting aside the ultimate worthiness of hyperloops, India would need to at least achieve certain preconditions before proposing or pursuing such systems in the country.

Challenges Faced in the Commission of Infrastructure Projects in India

Challenges Faced in the Commission of Infrastructure Projects in India

Dichotomy of Infrastructure Projects in India: Improved Performance amid Persistent Overhangs

Infrastructure development is a critical factor in boosting the economy. An increase in investment in infrastructure opens-up employment opportunities because of its backward and forward linkages. The changing demographics and environment will need the converged development of various infrastructure facilities in India. The government has promoted railways, roadways, ports, and civil aviation in recent decades, as evident from policy and programs. Even with the accelerated growth in infra projects in India, most of the infrastructure projects are delayed, primarily owing to regulatory approvals, land acquisition issues, shortage of skilled resources, ineffective dispute resolution mechanisms, and geological challenges. This paper highlights the prospects and progress of infrastructure projects along with issues and challenges.

Capacity Expansion Banes in Indian Steel Industry

It is a known fact that a large number of Steel Industry Expansion projects in India have been delayed due to regulatory clearances, environmental issues and problems pertaining to land acquisition. Also, there are challenges in the tendering phase that affect viability of projects thus delaying implementation, construction phase is beset with over-runs and disputes and last but not the least; provider skills are weak all across the value chain. Given the critical role of Steel Sector in ensuring a sustained growth trajectory for India, it is imperative that we identify the core issues affecting completion of infrastructure projects in India and chalk out initiatives that need to be acted upon in short term as well as long term.

Moving Beyond Disappointment: India, FDI, and Sustainability

executive summary: This essay examines what lessons can be learned for sustainable finance from India's recent history of foreign investment. main argument India has not increased its share of FDI in recent years as much as has been hoped. Risks for FDI continue to be high, especially due to growing economic nationalism and flawed dispute resolution mechanisms. The destinations for the investment India receives are strongly shaped by the risk perceptions of foreign investors—they prefer the stock market, services sector, and projects with minimal upfront investment and no political exposure. This has hindered the government's attempts to mobilize investment into the manufacturing sector and has negative implications also for sustainable finance. Most green infrastructure projects in India, or those related to sustainable development, do not fit the risk profile preferred by foreign investors. Thus, judging by India's recent history with FDI, energizing sustainable finance into India will require deeper reform. policy implications • The Indian government will have to bring its actual regulation of foreign investment closer to its welcoming rhetoric to improve the climate for FDI. • To attract greater levels of investment, attempts to favor "Indian" companies over others in various sectors must end. • Dispute resolution mechanisms must be reformed to encourage FDI—both by expanding capacity in India's judicial system and by accepting international arbitration awards. • Sectors in India crucial to sustainable and greener development, such as renewable energy and green infrastructure, will need to be ring-fenced from political risk.

Failure of Operational PPP Projects in India Leading to Private Developer’s Apathy to Participate in Future Projects: A Case Study Based Analysis

The goal of this study is to examine the failure of operational public-private partnership (PPP) infrastructure projects in India. The case study based analysis is done of eleven operational PPP projects from infrastructure subsectors like roads, metro rail, seaports, and power projects to investigate various risks faced during the life cycle of projects. The construction risks like land acquisition delay, change in scope, delay in financial closure resulting in time and cost overrun, revenue risk of not getting adequate revenue during operation phase and legal disputes between the authority and the concessionaire are prominent risks observed in these projects. Mitigating these risks through efficient life cycle contract management and appropriate allocation of risk creates adequate risk-adjusted financial returns to the private developers and value for money for the government. The study concludes that failure in contract and risk management in case of the majority of operational projects resulting in disappointing financial returns is the major reason for the private developer's apathy towards participation in a once successful PPP program in India.

Relating Institutions and Governance Strategies to Project Outcomes: Study on Public–Private Partnerships in Infrastructure Projects in India

AbstractPublic–private partnerships (PPPs) in infrastructure are long-term agreements subject to uncertainties. A variety of governance strategies must therefore be enacted over the PPP lifecycle t...

Identification and Management of Risk in Building and Infrastructure Projects

Building and infrastructure projects are very large and complex in nature consisting of extensive risks. For the successful accomplishment of these projects, risk identification and management should be used effectively. This paper recognizes the critical risk factors related to building and infrastructure projects in India. Seventy risks were identified through an in-depth study of literature related to risk in building and infrastructure projects. These seventy risks were categorized into eight major categories and a questionnaire survey was developed. Each risk factor was judged based on the probability and severity of that risk. Risk prioritization was used for determining the most critical risk factors involved. Data of one-forty-seven responses was used to analyze risk probability, risk severity using relative importance index (RII), and risk total impact was calculated using risk priority method. A risk mitigation model was also suggested. The most critical risk factors recognized were- approval and permit delays, payment delays, unpredicted changes in inflation rates, the pressure to crash project duration (time constraints), design errors or design changes. The results of this research will help risk managers, project managers, construction practitioners to identify risks related to these projects before the commencement of the project and to deal with them in such a way that these risks have minimal negative effects on project objectives.

Role of Public-Private Partnership in Infrastructural Development Projects: An Indian Perspective

Infrastructure is an important sector wherein all the countries need to work a lot to achieve overall development. India being developing country is working rigorously in the field of infrastructural advancement. However, lots of recourses are required to full fill the wants of individuals residing in any country and due to inadequate way outs sometimes targets are not achieved by the governments. To resort this setback various countries are adopting the innovative practices by adopting Public - Private Partnerships which is also called as PPP model or P3 model. Public - Private Partnerships is a novel idea through which public and private come together to develop infrastructural projects. Private sectors not only contribute their skills and experience but also finance the public sectors in infrastructural development projects. India has also followed this practice and adopted PPP model in sectors like road, transports, logistics hubs, Health Care and Education Sector. This research paper will focus on the study the role of Public-Private Partnership in Infrastructure Projects in India. Further, the study will also focus on advantages and disadvantages PPP model in infrastructural development projects.

Development of a scale for factors causing delays in infrastructure projects in India

The objective of the paper is to develop a validated scale to measure the factors that cause delays in infrastructure projects. The study employed a standard three phase scale development procedure of Churchill (1979) which was augmented subsequently by Nunnally, Bernstein and Berge (1994) and Prakash and Phadtare (2018). In phase one, 73 factors that cause delays were identified, which were reduced to 45 based on literature review and expert opinions. These 45 factors were subjected to an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in phase two and three, respectively, to refine and establish convergent, discriminant and nomological validity of the scale. The study confirms that delays in infrastructure projects happen due to six factors, i.e., Contractor Related Factors (CON); Consultant Related Factors (CS); External Factors (EX); Labour Related Factors (LR); Material Related Factors (MT) and Design Related Factors (DJ). The study is particularly useful for the firms engaged in the development of infrastructure projects globally, as it identifies and ranks the factors that cause delays in a project. However, the study being confirmatory in nature only confirms the grouping of factors causing delays and is also limited by the possibility of sampling error.

Characterization and performance of processed lateritic fine aggregates in cement mortars and concretes

Availability of river sand is becoming scarce, due to rapid increase in infrastructure projects in India. Acute shortage of river sand, has led to indiscriminate sand mining. Adverse effect of sand mining includes river bank erosion, river bed degradation, loss of biodiversity and deterioration of river water quality and ground water availability. To address the above issues, research efforts are on, to find substitutes for river sand to be used as fine aggregate in mortars and concretes. One among the locally available resources is laterite. Laterite is a product of tropical or sub-tropical weathering, which is an abundant soil material in many parts of India. An attempt has been made to characterize the processing technique to obtain good quality lateritic fine aggregates (lateritic FA). Experiments were designed and conducted to study the performance of lateritic FA as replacement to river sand, in cement mortars and concretes. Processed lateritic FA in replacement levels of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 wt% to river sand at all fineness levels (Zone I to Zone IV as per Indian standards) is considered. Microstructure studies were conducted to understand the arrangement of river sand and lateritic FA with cement matrix and their Interfacial Transition Zones (ITZ) using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The workability and compressive strength characteristics of cement mortars and concretes are evaluated. Laterized mortars with Zone III and Zone IV fine aggregates, at all replacement levels, result in the same compressive strengths as those of control mortars. Suitable strength enhancement technique has been attempted to achieve strengths of Zone I and Zone II lateritic fine aggregates based mortars at 100 wt% replacement, to achieve strength at least equal to or more than those of control mortars. Laterized concretes have achieved nearly the same strengths as those of control concretes, at all replacement levels and for all fineness levels (Zone I to Zone IV).

Study on Time and Cost Overruns in Mega Infrastructure Projects in India

Infrastructure projects are classified into two types namely major infrastructure projects and mega infrastructure projects. This study analyses the time overrun and cost overrun in 30 mega infrastructure projects in India using the quarterly reports available at the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation web portal. These projects represent different sectors such as the road transport and highways, power, atomic energy, metro and urban development, petroleum and petrochemicals. Road projects are found to have largest amount of time and cost overruns. Most common causes of time and cost overruns are identified as delay in land acquisition, delay in forest clearance, law and order problems, general price escalation, high capital cost, poor performance of contractor and delay in the supply of equipment. The relation between time overrun and cost overrun is studied in different sectors. Further, the effect of project duration and project budget on time and cost overruns is investigated.

Shifting Financing of Infrastructure in India from Banks to Bonds

The Indian bond market traditionally has had limited participation in financing infrastructure projects in India. An analysis of infrastructure financing in India from various sources indicates that infrastructure projects in India have been funded primarily by commercial banks and financial institutions, with a negligible contribution from bond markets. Commercial banks continue to remain invested in infrastructure projects through construction and over the longer term in operational phases of infrastructure public–private partnership projects. This article explores some of the reasons for low participation by institutional investors in Indian infrastructure assets through market instruments and provides policy and institutional recommendations for shifting the financing of infrastructure in India from banks to bonds—including the need to offer focused credit enhancement solutions for operational infrastructure projects.

Enabling Bond Market Finance for Infrastructure Projects in India: The Problem of Credit Ratings

In India, public–private partnership (PPP) infrastructure projects are mainly financed by commercial bank debt, and bond markets have had only limited participation in financing infrastructure. One of the factors that has constrained infrastructure projects from accessing bond markets has been their low-investment-grade credit ratings. Infrastructure projects are considered risky by rating agencies, and their low-investment-grade (BBB) rating levels do not attract bond market investments. However, the rationale for higher risk grades for infrastructure PPP projects is not clear. This article reviews research on financing infrastructure in India, analyzes rating transition studies over five years, and summarizes findings from an analysis of actual defaults for 134 infrastructure PPP projects in India. The findings indicate that infrastructure PPP projects exhibit lower rates of default than those expected from the credit ratings given to the infrastructure project debt. The use of external credit ratings by investors and financial sector regulators is constraining debt investments in infrastructure specifically from bond markets and long-term sources.

Enabling Bond Market Finance for Infrastructure Projects in India: The Problem of Credit Ratings

Enabling Bond Market Finance for Infrastructure Projects in India: <i>The Problem of Credit Ratings</i>

Pathways to Better Project Delivery: The Link Between Capacity Factors and Urban Infrastructure Projects in India

Summary This study focuses on the concept of capacity development (CD) that has been accepted widely in the international development community, but has not been investigated extensively by empirical studies in academic research. While empirical evidence is essential to understanding causality between capacity and project outcomes, past CD research primarily focuses on case studies. Using fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis, this research analyzes 126 urban infrastructure projects in India that were funded by a national urban renewal program to find which combinations of capacity factors at the enabling environment, organizational, and individual level led to successful or unsuccessful project delivery. The results identify six pathways to success and three pathways to failure and reveal the complex causality between capacity factors and project delivery. This study moves beyond theoretical discussions found in existing CD literature by providing an example of how CD can be studied in the context of a real-world development program, and contributes to our understanding of how capacity is interconnected with project delivery.

A study of cost overruns in infrastructure projects in India

Infrastructural projects in India are unseemly famous for the delays in their completion. These delays lead to cost overruns. Through a range of examples, this paper highlights the major reasons for time and hence cost overruns for infrastructural projects in India, especially related to the construction of roads, highways, expressways and flyovers. These reasons run through various stages of the construction process. The paper also recommends various suggestions to reduce the problems of time and cost overruns, if not completely avoiding them.

Why Do Water and Sanitation Systems for the Poor Still Fail? Policy Analysis in Economically Advanced Developing Countries

The results of an independent evaluation of 60 case studies of water and sanitation infrastructure projects in India, Mexico, and South Africa, most of them implemented since 2000, demonstrate an ongoing problem of failing infrastructure even in economically advanced developing countries. This paper presents a meta-analysis of those project case study results and analyses whether the design of existing policies or other factors contribute to failures. It concludes that the observed failures are due to well-known reasons and recommends how the implementation of the Dublin-Rio Principles can be improved. (They were introduced twenty years ago to avoid such failures by means of more sustainable planning.).