Mumbai, July 2 -- The cumulative expenditure on central sector infrastructure projects worth Rs 1.5 billion (bn) and above has risen to about Rs 21,820 bn, representing 51.34 per cent of the revised project cost, according to a flash report from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation for May 2026. The ministry said the figures provide a snapshot of implementation trends for centrally funded schemes.

The report shows many projects are at advanced stages, with 817 projects, around 41 per cent, achieving over 80 per cent physical progress while 280 projects, around 14 per cent, have crossed 80 per cent financial completion. Physical and financial progress broadly move in tandem, with clusters at initial stages from zero to 20 per cent and at advanced stages from 81 to 100 per cent, indicating a pipeline of newly started projects alongside those nearing completion. Physical progress exceeds financial progress in the highest completion band, whereas financial progress is relatively higher in the early stages.

Transport and logistics remains the dominant sector, accounting for 55 per cent of total revised cost or about Rs 23,500 bn across 1,476 projects. The energy sector follows with 27 per cent, about Rs 11,250 bn across 214 projects, reflecting continued investment in oil and gas infrastructure, electricity generation and transmission networks and energy storage. Communication infrastructure and water and sanitation account for roughly Rs 2,530 bn across 12 projects and Rs 2,080 bn across 56 projects respectively.

In May 2026, 16 projects were commissioned across coal, housing and urban affairs, power, road transport and highways, petroleum and natural gas and labour and employment. Notable commissions included the Ghatampur Thermal Power Plant, comprising three units of 660 megawatt (MW), valued at about Rs 217.81 bn, and the Ahmedabad metro rail project phase one, valued at about Rs 129.25 bn. The ministry characterised the portfolio as demonstrating sustained emphasis on connectivity and energy networks in ongoing infrastructure expansion.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.