The National Bank of Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) is planning to establish the UK's first data repository for the infrastructure sector. This initiative aims to enhance transparency and provide detailed information about new and ongoing infrastructure projects, thereby attracting private investment. Initially, data will be sourced from banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), and infrastructure firms. Subsequently, information from other government entities such as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), PM Gatishakti, and other stakeholders will be integrated into the repository, pending regulatory approvals and support from various government departments.

Rajkiran Rai G, managing director, emphasised the need for such a repository, noting that while credit bureaus provide reliable data for retail and MSME loans, there is currently no comparable quality data available for the infrastructure sector. The repository aims to compile comprehensive data for all infrastructure projects, offering stakeholders visibility into project progress from inception to completion. This transparency is expected to bolster private investment by enabling investors to assess project stages and compare performance across different sub-sectors within infrastructure.

Moreover, the repository will aid lenders in predicting project stress indicators and complying with regulatory guidelines, such as the Reserve Bank of India's draft guidelines on infrastructure financing. Rai underscored NaBFID's broader role in fostering the infrastructure financing ecosystem, including developing new financial instruments, enhancing project assessment capabilities, and advocating for policy improvements.

The dedicated data repository is poised to inform effective policymaking by providing insights into sub-sector performances and supporting real-time predictive analysis, contingent on continued regulatory and governmental support.