New Delhi, October 27, 2026: Roads and railways account for 1,258 of India’s 1,853 centrally monitored infrastructure projects, while cumulative expenditure across all monitored projects reached ₹17.73 lakh crore by September 2026, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
The projects have a combined latest estimated cost of ₹37.56 lakh crore, with expenditure accounting for 47.21% of that amount. This represents cumulative spending since the projects began, rather than spending during September or the proportion of construction work completed.
The figures were released on October 26 in MoSPI’s Monthly Flash Report on Central Sector Infrastructure Projects, which monitors projects costing ₹150 crore or more across 17 central ministries and departments.
Transport and logistics emerged as the largest infrastructure category, covering 1,320 projects with a combined cost of approximately ₹20.07 lakh crore.
Together, transport and logistics and energy accounted for 1,545 projects, or about 83.4% of the total being monitored, reflecting the concentration of major central infrastructure projects in these sectors.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had the largest number of projects, with 974 projects carrying a latest estimated cost of ₹9.46 lakh crore. Cumulative expenditure on these projects stood at approximately ₹4.93 lakh crore.
The Ministry of Railways followed with 284 projects worth ₹7.21 lakh crore, against which approximately ₹3.62 lakh crore had been spent.
The power sector accounted for 106 projects with a combined estimated cost of ₹6.40 lakh crore, while the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had 115 projects worth ₹4.30 lakh crore.
The report showed that 654 projects, or about 35% of those monitored, had achieved more than 80% physical progress by September 2026.
In comparison, 338 projects, representing approximately 18% of the total, had crossed the 80% financial progress threshold.
Physical progress measures the extent of project implementation, while financial progress indicates how much of a project’s estimated cost has been spent. The two indicators do not necessarily advance at the same rate.
The figures also do not establish that projects below the 80% threshold are delayed, as the monitored portfolio includes projects at different stages of implementation.
Of the 1,853 projects, 780 were classified as mega projects costing ₹1,000 crore or more, while the remaining 1,073 were categorised as major projects.
MoSPI reported that 83 projects were added to its monitoring system during September 2026.
These included 57 railway projects, 16 road and highway projects, seven power projects, two projects under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and one coal project.
Their addition to the monitoring system does not necessarily mean construction began during September.
The report also highlighted the commissioning of the 1,320 MW Buxar Thermal Power Project on September 12, 2026, at a reported cost of ₹13,756.56 crore.
The first phase of NMDC’s slurry pipeline project, costing approximately ₹5,427 crore, was commissioned on September 26.
MoSPI tracks central-sector infrastructure projects through its Project Assessment, Infrastructure Monitoring and Analytics for Nation-building (PAIMANA) system, using information submitted by the relevant ministries and implementing agencies.
The monitoring process covers expenditure, project progress and implementation status, providing the government with information to identify delays, cost pressures and other potential bottlenecks.
The next monthly report, covering October 2026, is scheduled for release on November 25.
