India’s infrastructure sector has registered significant growth across highways, aviation, telecommunications, ports and power, according to the latest quarterly update of the PAIMANA Performance Monitoring Dashboard released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
The report highlights a 62.9% year-on-year increase in National Highway projects awarded during April–September 2026–27, while air cargo traffic grew 12% to 18.6 lakh tonnes during April–August.
The PAIMANA dashboard provides a centralised digital platform to monitor infrastructure performance and support evidence-based policymaking. Its latest update expands coverage to 184 indicators, including 21 newly introduced indicators, with quarterly data refreshed for 41 indicators across key infrastructure sectors.
The dashboard monitors infrastructure performance across civil aviation, road transport and highways, power, ports, shipping and waterways, telecommunications, and railways. Its indicators cover five key dimensions: access, quality, fiscal cost and revenue, utilisation, and affordability.
Highways and Digital Connectivity Gain Momentum
India’s road infrastructure recorded strong growth, with 2,236.3 kilometres of National Highway projects awarded during April–September 2026–27, representing a 62.9% increase year-on-year.
Electronic toll collection also expanded, with transactions rising 24.1% to 225.2 crore. The value of toll collections reached ₹36,994.5 crore, registering 11.7% growth.
Meanwhile, the country’s optical fibre cable network extended to 7,52,113 kilometres by August 2026, following the addition of 29,256 kilometres between April and August.
Wired and wireless broadband subscribers grew by 12.4% and 12.9%, respectively, during 2025–26. The number of connected Gram Panchayats reached 2,23,814 by August 2026, including 5,352 additions in the first five months of the current financial year.
Air Cargo and Port Operations Report Growth
India’s civil aviation sector handled 18.6 lakh tonnes of air cargo during April–August 2026–27, marking a 12% year-on-year increase. Delhi airport led cargo handling with 5.3 lakh tonnes.
Foreign tourist arrivals reached 30.49 lakh up to August in the current financial year, registering 2% growth compared with the corresponding period last year.
Cargo handling at major ports increased 7.2% to 390.4 million tonnes during April–August 2026–27. Non-major ports handled 313.4 million tonnes, recording growth of 1.8% over the same period.
Petroleum and crude products remained the largest commodity category at major ports, accounting for approximately 29.2% of total cargo handled. Cargo movement in this category increased 3.1% year-on-year.
Power Capacity and Renewable Energy Continue to Expand
India’s total installed power capacity reached 5,32,739.7 megawatts in 2025–26, representing year-on-year growth of 12.1%.
Renewable energy capacity grew 29.5% to 2,23,273 megawatts, accounting for approximately 42% of the country’s total installed power capacity. These figures underscore the expanding role of renewable energy in India’s electricity infrastructure.
Railways Strengthen Infrastructure and Rolling Stock
Indian Railways recorded further improvements in infrastructure capacity during 2024–25. The number of coaches increased 4.5%, while the locomotive fleet grew 6.4%.
The length of electrified railway tracks rose 4.8%, and the number of railway wagons increased 5.4% during the same financial year.
MoSPI stated that the PAIMANA Performance Monitoring Dashboard will continue to receive quarterly updates to enhance transparency, improve access to official infrastructure data and support informed decision-making across India’s infrastructure sector.
