Roads & Infrastructure: Sustained Public Capex and Asset Monetisation
Elevated highway capex and asset-monetisation via InvITs sustain a broad construction and developer opportunity.
Market Size
~$30 Bn (India roads capex, FY26E)
Growth
~10% CAGR (FY26–30E)
Read
7 min
Published
Jul 2026
Overview
Road construction and infrastructure remain a cornerstone of India's public-capex programme, with sustained highway and expressway building under hybrid-annuity (HAM), EPC and BOT models. The completed-asset base is increasingly monetised through infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs) and the National Monetisation Pipeline, freeing capital for fresh construction. Ancillary demand flows to cement, aggregates, equipment and engineering services.
Developer economics vary by model: EPC and HAM shift traffic risk away from developers, while BOT/toll carries traffic exposure but toll upside. Asset recycling via InvITs is improving balance-sheet velocity and attracting long-term (including foreign) capital into operating road assets. Order visibility from awarding agencies underpins construction revenue.
The sector is exposed to award-pace slowdowns, land-acquisition delays, interest rates and working-capital intensity. Well-capitalised developers with strong execution and InvIT recycling strategies are best positioned.
Illustrative projection from the report's stated market size (~$30 Bn (India roads capex, FY26E)) and growth (~10% CAGR (FY26–30E)).
Key Highlights
- Sustained highway capex under HAM/EPC/BOT
- Asset monetisation via InvITs and NMP
- Ancillary demand for cement, aggregates, equipment
- Order visibility from awarding agencies
Growth Drivers
- Sustained government infrastructure capex
- Asset recycling via InvITs attracting long-term capital
- Economic-corridor and expressway build-out
- Ancillary construction-material and equipment demand
Key Players
Investment Outlook
Roads offer steady, capex-backed construction demand with InvIT monetisation improving capital efficiency, subject to award-pace and execution risk. We favour well-capitalised developers with strong execution and disciplined balance sheets.
Key Risks
- Award-pace slowdowns and land-acquisition delays
- Working-capital intensity and interest-rate sensitivity
- Traffic risk on toll/BOT assets
The Neoma View
We favour road developers pairing strong execution with InvIT-led asset recycling; balance-sheet discipline is the trait that separates durable compounders here.
Talk to an advisor →All figures are indicative and for information only - not investment advice or a recommendation. Market sizes, growth rates and financial metrics are hedged estimates that vary by source and period. Please consult your advisor before investing.
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