New Delhi: In a major thrust to infrastructure development, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday launched the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) worth Rs 6 lakh crore.
The NMP comprises a four-year pipeline of the Centre’s brownfield infrastructure assets from financial years 2021-22 to 2024-25. Apart from providing visibility to investors, NMP will also serve as a medium-term roadmap for the asset monetization initiative of the government, media reported.
Sitharaman said the FY22 Union Budget identified infrastructure as a key focus for public expenditure. There is no land involved in NMP which will have only brownfield assets.
The Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) are ramping up capital expenditure despite the second wave of the pandemic, she said, adding she will monitor it further.
The NMP will incorporate those brownfield assets where investment is already being made and the assets are either languishing or not fully monetized or under-utilized.
Earlier this month, the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) had said the Centre is finalising infrastructure assets, including national highways and power grid pipelines, to be monetized.
The Union Budget 2021-22 had emphasized asset monetisation as a means to raise innovative and alternative financing for infrastructure and included a number of key announcements.
(VP)
