Although the country has improved its transportation landscape over the past two decades, much remains to be done to meet the increasing demand in the years ahead, says a new report released by Kearney titled Harnessing the Opportunities in India’s Transportation Infrastructure.The report highlights an investment opportunity of $575 billion in the transport infrastructure sector in India in the next five years. Roads and railways constitute 80 per cent of the total investment opportunity driven by investments in flagship projects such as Bharatmala, the dedicated freight corridor, high-speed rail, etc. The report further highlights delays in land acquisition and clearance, constraints in funding for infrastructure projects and lack of an efficient dispute resolution mechanism as key challenges in realising the investment opportunity.“Significant opportunities exist in various transportation infrastructure in India; prioritising the most important ones is of paramount importance,” says Manish Mathur, Partner and Head-Asia Pacific, Transportation and Infrastructure Practice, Kearney. “Although there are obstacles to realising the vast potential, these challenges can be overcome with a concerted and coherent strategy across the key stakeholders: Government authorities, concessionaires and contractors, and financial institutions.”The report outlines key steps required from each of the stakeholders to overcome the obstacles and maximise the opportunities:Government authorities: As authorities design their transport infrastructure development strategies, they will need to focus on identifying the right funding model, ensuring robust cash flow management with comprehensive viability assessment, and enabling a vibrant ecosystem of concessionaires and contractors.Concessionaires and contractors: With growing infrastructure investments and greater participation from the private sector, concessionaires need to explore strategic partnerships, identify the right markers for decision-making, and ensure the quality and timeline of project delivery.Financiers: In addition to re-evaluating the risk-reward spread in the infrastructure sector, financial institutions should collaborate with government authorities and concessionaires to develop innovative products for financing.“With a concerted effort, today’s challenges can be transformed into an opportunity that will not only boost organic growth, drive job creation and aid a whole gamut of industries but help fulfil one of the most basic tenets of economic and social activity: Mobility to serve the common good,” adds Mathur.