India’s core infrastructure and energy industries have submitted an extensive wishlist to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during a key pre-budget consultation held on Thursday, November 20.
They sought higher capital allocations, cheaper financing, and reforms to ease project execution across sectors ranging from solar power and highways to shipping and ports, sources told CNBC-TV18.
Solar sector seeks funding, domestic manufacturing support
According to sources, representatives from the solar energy sector strongly argued for a higher budgetary allocation to enable India to maintain its rapid pace of renewable capacity addition. With the government targeting ambitious solar installation milestones, the industry highlighted the need for a significant scale-up in financial support, especially for rooftop solar and decentralized clean energy.
Sector participants told the Finance Minister that large-scale solar projects require heavy up-front capital and therefore must be backed by enhanced financing mechanisms, sources added.
The sector has requested discounted interest rates from both public and private financial institutions, stating this would directly improve project viability and accelerate deployment timelines.
Industry representatives also requested increased funding for the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, which boosts rooftop solar adoption among households nationwide. Higher funding, the sector believes, will drive faster on-ground execution while expanding domestic demand for solar components, sources said.
A major focus in the meeting, sources said, was the push for stronger domestic manufacturing. Industry leaders emphasised that India must reduce reliance on imported modules, cells, electrolyzers and batteries by strengthening the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. They have requested expanded coverage and higher incentive outlays for advanced clean-tech manufacturing, including grid-scale battery systems that are critical for renewable integration.
Another key demand was accelerated investment in grid infrastructure, including additional funding for the Green Energy Corridor. Without stronger transmission networks and storage capacity, industry representatives warned, renewable power will increasingly face curtailment challenges, limiting India’s ability to integrate new solar and wind projects, claimed sources.
Faster approvals for roads and highway
Representatives from the roads and highways sector focused heavily on sustaining the government’s strong capital expenditure push that has powered record highway construction over the past few years.
The core demand is for the continuation of high capital allocations for both the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
Industry participants highlighted that ongoing expressway and multi-lane corridor projects require uninterrupted funding support to avoid delays and cost escalations, sources said.
Sources added that the sector also flagged concerns around NHAI’s rising debt levels, urging the government to continue providing adequate budgetary support to help the authority maintain a stable financial position while executing a large national highway pipeline.
Apart from funding, the sector stressed the need to resolve project bottlenecks—particularly land acquisition challenges, state-level clearances and environmental approvals. These issues, according to sources, have contributed to significant execution delays and cost overruns in several greenfield expressway and highway expansion projects. Industry representatives emphasised that quicker resolution mechanisms will directly improve project timelines and create a positive multiplier for the broader infrastructure ecosystem, claimed sources.
Dedicated development funding
The infrastructure industry representatives also proposed that the government allocate dedicated funding for regional development through channels such as the National Investment Fund (NIF).
According to sources, this would provide long-term, predictable capital access for priority infrastructure projects and help drive balanced regional growth.
Shipping sector eyes green tech support
The shipping industry outlined a detailed set of expectations from the upcoming Budget. A key request is the continuation and effective implementation of the Maritime Development Fund, which was announced in earlier budget cycles.
Industry executives said predictable long-term financing is essential for modernising India’s shipping fleet and maritime logistics infrastructure, sources said.
One of the most significant demands is the full implementation of the “infrastructure status” for large vessels, which the government has previously announced. Sources noted that the industry is seeking clarity on the qualification criteria, as the status would ensure easier access to long-term financing and tax-efficient investment structures.
In line with global sustainability commitments, the shipping sector has also asked for greater budgetary incentives for R&D in green shipping technologies, including alternative fuels, hybrid vessels, and emissions-reducing innovations. Industry participants argued that India must build capability in manufacturing green vessels to remain competitive as international regulations tighten, sources shared.
The sector further requested higher capital expenditure for port infrastructure, along with stronger support for multi-modal connectivity linking ports with road, rail and inland waterways. According to sources, improved connectivity is essential to lowering logistics costs, boosting export competitiveness, and improving turnaround times across major ports.
