"Infrastructure is the game-changer for India if we get our act right," said Kamal Nath, while addressing the top public and private sector companies.
The annual award organised by Infrastructure Today, India’s premier magazine for nation builders, in association with KPMG, on 25th February, 2013, New Delhi recognised excellence in infrastructure sectors. This year, gracing the occasion as the Chief Guest was Kamal Nath, Union Minister for Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India. An enthusiastic advocate of the PPP model, Nath was pleased with the Central and state governments’ increasing adoption of the public-private partnership (PPP) model for infrastructure projects, and laid stress for more partnerships. In his address, he mentioned, "For India to become an economic superpower, we must get our infrastructure act right. So I’d like to compliment Infrastructure Today and KPMG for instituting these awards in the important area of PPP." He also presented trophies to PPP projects in the categories of Transport, Urban Infrastructure, Power, etc 12 private and public sector organisations were awarded.
Need for momentum
Nath was joined by the awards organisers Pratap Vijay Padode, Editor-in-Chief, Infrastructure Today; Arvind Mahajan, Partner and Head of Global Infrastructure and Energy and Natural Resources for KPMG India and James Stewart, Chairman Global Infrastructure, KPMG. Padode in his opening address said, "The 5th KPMG-Infrastructure Today Awards has been a timely emphasis on the need for government to provide momentum to this sector, without which India cannot achieve its targeted GDP growth and having Minister Kamal Nath’s affirmation just before the Budget, we are hopeful of seeing radical changes in project execution in the year ahead."
Mahajan added that the award winners serve as role models in this challenging year for the sector and that the government needs to ensure that the unfinished India infrastructure story is facilitated to the next level of growth.
THE JURY
• Rajeeva Sinha, Wholetime Director, Mundra Ports & SEZ
• Ramesh Chandak, Managing Director and CEO, KEC International Ltd
• Sunil Kanoria, Vice Chairman, SREI Infrastructure Finance Ltd
• Tilak Raj Sheth, Head-Infrastructure, Siemens
Winners of 5th KPMG-Infrastructure Today Awards
• Most Admired Infrastructure Company – Power – TATA Power
• Most Admired Infrastructure Company – Renewable Energy – NSL Renewable Power
• Most Admired Emerging Infrastructure Company – Power – Jaiprakash Power Ventures
• Most Admired Infrastructure Company – Transport – IL&FS Transportation Networks (India)
• Most Admired Emerging Infrastructure Company – Transport – Karaikal Port
• Most Admired Emerging Infrastructure Company – Water & Urban Infra- Doshion
• Most Admired Infrastructure Company – Overall – GMR Group
• Most Admired State Entity promoting – PPP – City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO)
• Most Admired Central Entity promoting – PPP – Planning Commission, Government of India
• Most Admired Infrastructure Debt Financer – ICICI Bank
• Most Admired Infrastructure Equity Financer – 3i Group
• PPP Project of the year – Yamuna Expressway