New Delhi, Oct. 13 -- Delhi Lieutenant Governor Sardar TS Sandhu on Tuesday stressed that public private partnerships (PPPs) must be chosen carefully, saying not every project is suited to the model. He said financial sustainability, affordable services and long term maintenance must be considered before a project is taken up. Addressing a capacity building programme at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) in Dwarka, Sandhu said the decision to involve private players should depend on the nature of the service, the capacity of the public authority, the risks involved and the outcomes expected by citizens.
He cautioned that completing a project on time does not necessarily guarantee its success. A project may be technically feasible but financially unsustainable, or attract private investment without delivering affordable services. Poorly planned maintenance arrangements could also create difficulties after a project becomes operational. These issues, he said, need to be addressed during planning rather than after implementation begins. Sandhu said projects should be assessed throughout their lifecycle, with proper feasibility studies, financial and legal checks, realistic demand projections and
consultations with stakeholders. He added that risks should be assigned to the party best equipped to manage them.
He also highlighted the need for better coordination between government departments, regulators and local bodies, with clear responsibilities and time-bound decisions. Performance indicators, monitoring, incentives, penalties, dispute resolution and transparency in procurement and evaluation were among the other measures he emphasised. The LG said Delhi's development priorities, including urban infrastructure, public transport, healthcare, education, water management, energy and digital governance, were interconnected. Appropriate private sector participation in these areas, he said, could support the vision of Viksit Delhi 2047.
Describing PPPs as more than an alternative source of funding, Sandhu said the model brings together public objectives and private sector capabilities. He also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphasis on infrastructure development under GatiShakti. The programme brought together the Delhi government, academia and industry, with GGSIPU serving as the Lead Knowledge Institution under the State Institution of Transformation. Sandhu said the proposed PPP Playbook should offer practical guidance on project selection, feasibility, contracts, risk allocation, approvals and performance monitoring.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.