Sustainability of PPP Infrastructure Projects: Lessons from the Indian Experience

Abstract

Abstract

Though the development of infrastructure projects either through private investment in case of public-private partnership (PPP) or using general funding, leads to the promotion of sustainable development (SD), but on account of giving more emphasis on the business interests of private sector there is the tendency of financial aspect taking precedence over the social and environmental aspects of sustainability. As a result, the infrastructure development through PPP route exhibits concerns about fulfilling the perquisites of SD principles. The main purpose of this research article is to study the various infrastructure projects in India procured through PPP route from the perspective of SD principles. This will help to identify the key areas in PPP projects where SD principles can be integrated so as to ensure that PPPs are leading to holistic SD.The study has used analysis of case studies’ methodology through literature review as the approach in order to first study the PPP process in India and the core principles, which should be followed in order to achieve holistic SD. Then the review of various infrastructure projects procured through PPP in India has been carried out to identify the shortcoming in various phase of PPP process. Finally, using the core SD principles, the PPP process currently in practice in India is analyzed to identify the key areas in PPP projects where the private sector can be incentivized to adopt sustainable practices and designs to promote SD. The study identifies the various areas, which hampered the sustainability of infrastructure projects procured through PPP route in India.

Keywords: Infrastructure projects, public-private partnerships, sustainable development, sustainability, India

Cite this Article

NileshAgarchandPatil, Boeing Laishram.Sustainability of PPP Infrastructure Projects: Lessons from the Indian Experience.Recent Trends in Civil Engineering & Technology. 2016; 6(2): 1–10p.