In the first four months of this fiscal year (to July), the road and rail ministries collectively used more than Rs 2 trillion in capital expenditure, marking their highest spending ever. This use accounts for nearly half of the allocated Rs 10 trillion capex, with the government aiming to reach 80% spending by December, well ahead of the upcoming general election.

Railway sources revealed that more than 40% of capex in July was employed by the national carrier, including more than Rs 1 lakh trillion for ongoing infrastructure and safety projects. The rail sector received a historic allocation of Rs 2.6 lithr trillion in the 2023-24 budget, mainly for various infrastructure developments and safety improvements.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Roads reported capital expenditures of around Rs 1.2 lakh trillion in the road sector, out of the total allocation of Rs 2.59 trillion for the entire fiscal year. This year's capex utilisation represents a significant increase of 31.3% compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.