Mumbai, Oct. 6 -- Deloitte's Future of Infrastructure Survey 2026 finds that the evolution of the global infrastructure sector will hinge on integrating capital, policy, technology and delivery across interconnected systems.

Infrastructure leaders across Asia-Pacific are signalling a fundamental shift in how projects will be financed, delivered and operated over the next decade, with Deloitte's Future of Infrastructure Survey 2026 showing technology as the connective tissue driving efficiencies in India. The study finds that the evolution of the infrastructure sector will hinge on integrating capital, policy, technology and delivery across interconnected systems.

For India, the challenge now extends beyond mobilising capital to making projects more investable and execution-ready. Among Indian respondents, 38 per cent cite lack of private-sector participation as a key hurdle, while 42 per cent point to complex policies, regulations and permitting processes. Another 38 per cent highlight budgetary constraints as a major impediment. Together, these findings reinforce the need for stronger project preparation, clearer revenue models and financing structures that allocate risk to stakeholders best placed to manage it.

Manish Aggarwal, National Leader of Infrastructure & Capital Projects, Deloitte South Asia, stated India's opportunity is multi-decadal, but investors view it as two tranches separated by risk. The public sector has reduced risk in greenfield sectors such as renewables and highways, attracting private capital. Urban infrastructure, however, lacks similar mechanisms at scale.

"Private capital is increasingly participating in brownfield assets through asset recycling, M&A, InvITs and listings. The monetisation of de-risked assets is a sign of the Indian market's growing maturity, helping recycle capital into new infrastructure development. M&A is playing a key role in this process, connecting brownfield monetisation with new greenfield development and helping sustain India's investment cycle," Aggarwal said.

Aggarwal added that with larger deal sizes, deeper capital pools and relaxed acquisition financing norms, investors will need to focus on unlocking embedded value and generating alpha post-acquisition.

The survey covered nearly 1,000 executives across government, private sector and not-for-profit organisations in 21 countries, spanning digital infrastructure, energy and utilities, mobility and transportation, and social infrastructure. India's findings, based on 24 respondents, were benchmarked against broader APAC trends.

Investable Infrastructure

As priorities broaden across digital networks, clean energy, transportation, water systems and social infrastructure, financing models are expected to diversify. Here, 71 per cent of Indian respondents anticipate growth in vendor and supplier financing, 62 per cent expect greater multilateral and development-bank funding, and 58 per cent foresee increased participation from sovereign wealth and pension funds. These findings point to growing demand for blended capital structures combining public funding with long-term institutional capital.

India's hybrid annuity model (HAM) illustrates how targeted government support and risk-sharing can improve project bankability. By balancing risks between public and private sectors and funding 40 per cent of construction costs, HAM has helped create more investable opportunities.

APAC Infrastructure Ecosystem

The survey highlights APAC as an emerging global hub for infrastructure innovation, with 80 per cent of respondents expecting wider integration of digital technologies across public and social infrastructure, while 86 per cent identify data infrastructure as a priority investment area.

India's priorities mirror these trends but with stronger conviction. An overwhelming 93 per cent of respondents expect increased investment in cybersecurity, 80 per cent in public Wi-Fi, 77 per cent in alternative energy sources such as solar and wind, and 82 per cent in freight rail and mass transit. Among them, 71 per cent agree that the public sector must modernise infrastructure and integrate digital engineering technologies, compared with 36 per cent across APAC. Additionally, 83 per cent believe critical infrastructure requires stronger protection from cyberattacks, versus 63 per cent across APAC.

Technology and AI Modernisation

Momentum is building around AI-enabled infrastructure planning, delivery and operations. In India, 91 per cent of respondents expect adoption of technologies such as GenAI, digital twins and predictive analytics to significantly impact infrastructure and transportation operations, compared with 57 per cent across APAC. Half of Indian respondents believe AI will revolutionise planning and operations, while another half see digital twins and real-time analytics as essential to improving asset performance and enabling predictive maintenance.

NSN Murty, Government & Public Services Consulting Leader, Deloitte South Asia, points to a larger trend. "Technology is becoming the connective tissue across infrastructure systems. Governments will need to combine AI, digital twins, cybersecurity and real-time analytics to improve project delivery, strengthen resilience and make more informed investment decisions. The next generation of infrastructure will be defined by physical assets and the intelligence embedded within them," he said.

Organisations are already preparing for this shift, with 79 per cent of Indian respondents developing AI training programmes, 62 per cent building AI vision and implementation roadmaps, and 54 per cent strengthening data quality for effective adoption. AI is being deployed for predictive maintenance, cyber and physical security, energy demand forecasting and real-time asset monitoring.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Infrastructure Today.