Need to reduce time taken by infra projects to unlock value: L&T's Shankar Raman

L&T's R Shankar Raman has projected the EPC major's current $60 billion orderbook to rise by four-fold in the next 25 years, and also underscored the need to reduce the 'life cycle cost' of India's infrastructure projects sharply down, in order to unlock greater value.

As part of the panel discussion of the India Business Leader Awards (IBLA) jury meet on CNBC-TV18, Shankar Raman said efforts are on at L&T to bring down the time taken to deliver on infrastructure projects, as that alone can enhance the sponsorship for such projects 'dramatically'.

"If we can reduce time taken to build the infra, it will help the present value of money being unlocked," Shankar Raman said. Once that happens, "the infrastructure projects should get delivered in a third of times."

This reduction in time taken to complete projects will also help reduce the cost, he added. Shankar Raman also stressed on the need to prioritize quality infrastructure over 'low-cost options', adding that "India’s infrastructure future hinges on balancing quality, cost and monetization potential." A focus on quality infrastructure will be key to monetize projects for sustainable growth, he added.