Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday, 23 February, unveiled the blueprint for the second phase of India’s public asset monetization programme, targeting Rs 10.82 lakh crore in mobilisation by fiscal year 2030 and an additional Rs 5.9 lakh crore over the full concession period of assets placed under private sector management.
The plan, prepared by Niti Aayog, marks a sharp scale-up from the first phase covering FY22-25, which had a target of Rs 6 lakh crore.
Niti Aayog chief executive B.V.R. Subrahmanyam said 89 per cent of that earlier target has been achieved, mobilising Rs 5.3 lakh crore primarily from highways, coal, mines, and petroleum and natural gas sectors.
The overall monetisation target of Rs 16.72 lakh crore also factors in Rs 5.8 lakh crore in private sector investments for construction and maintenance of the handed-over assets. The central government expects to receive Rs 80,000–90,000 crore annually from the programme. For FY26 alone, the target is to mobilise Rs 2.49 lakh crore.
Crucially, the programme does not involve the sale of legal title. Assets will be transferred to the private sector for a defined concession period — typically 15 to 35 years — after which they revert to government ownership. “The asset remains yours. This is the biggest advantage,” Subrahmanyam said, distinguishing asset monetisation from disinvestment.
The plan spans 12 sectors including highways, railways, power, ports, civil aviation, telecom, coal, mines, warehousing and urban infrastructure. Highways, multimodal logistics parks and ropeways account for over a quarter of the total target, while railways, power and ports each contribute 16–17 per cent.
