New Delhi, March 25: The Namami Gange Programme (NGP), a flagship initiative by the central government, presents a significant business opportunity valued at Rs 10,000 crore for companies in the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) sector, as per a recent report by ICRA.
The report highlights that government expenditure on water supply and sanitation (WSS) projects, including NGP, has seen considerable growth over the last decade.
ICRA noted, "The Government of India’s Namami Gange Programme presents an untapped Rs 100 billion opportunity for EPC players." In the Union Budget for FY2026, the Ministry of Jal Shakti was allocated Rs 99,500 crore, reflecting a robust annual growth rate of 21% over the past ten years.
Launched in June 2014, the Namami Gange Programme aims to clean and rejuvenate the Ganga River and its tributaries. Initially planned to run until March 2021 with a budget of Rs 20,000 crore, the programme is now in its second phase, which extends until March 2026, with an increased budget of Rs 22,500 crore. By January 31, 2025, 492 projects had been sanctioned under the NGP, amounting to an estimated cost of Rs 40,120 crore.
Of these, 307 projects are fully operational. The report also highlights that 206 sewage infrastructure projects have been approved, with a total investment of Rs 33,000 crore, and 127 of these have already been completed. Despite the substantial allocation of funds and a large number of projects underway, the pace of execution remains a significant challenge.
With the current deadline set for March 2026, the timely completion of outstanding projects is crucial. However, based on the progress observed so far, ICRA suggests that the government may consider extending the programme’s timeline.
