M Murali, Director General, National Highways Builders Federation (NHBF) passed away on May 17, 2016. He was always at the forefront, leading the nodal agency representing highway developers

The moot question is whether good intent has been accompanied by careful planning. It was always going to be a difficult job. Roads development, battered and bruised by a heavy load of projects awarded in the recent past, remained stalled for various reasons ranging from land acquisition and bureaucratic red tape to a lack of accountability and transparency in the bidding process.

The government is taking only the EPC cost as the DPR cost. They are not adding other things like interest on annuity or the interest difference when we do the financing of the project.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has amended its earlier approval dated May 13, 2015, for permitting 100 per cent equity divestment after two years of construction completion for all BOT projects, irrespective of year of award.

The road sector has gathered steam with the government´s focus on the revival of the investment cycle. Over the next six months, the government plans to award road projects worth Rs 3.5 lakh crore.

India´s increasing population, rapid urbanization, coupled with traffic congestion and the consequent demand for robust infrastructure have been the driving factors behind the growth of roads and bridge infrastructure.

I am looking forward to a number of reforms. There has to be a very clear map for GST and the government needs to ensure that the ´Make in India´ initiative is successful and facilitate the ease of doing business in India.

The construction equipment industry has witnessed substantial investments in the recent past with several companies setting up manufacturing bases, and the demand is likely to rise with the focus on infrastructure development.

Though investment in infrastructure is expected to touch $1,025 billion in the Twelfth Five-Year Plan (2012-17), many hurdles are choking investment inflows despite the government´s overdrive to attract funds. The government´s recent decision to open up the railway sector to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)