Speech of Hon’ble Lt. Governor at Capacity Building Programme on Leveraging Public-Private Partnerships at GGSIP University, Dwarka.

Home/ In Media/ Speeches/ Speech of Hon’ble Lt. Governor At Capacity Building Programme On Leveraging Public-Private Partnerships At GGSIP University, Dwarka.

  • Principal Secretary (Planning), GNCTD, Shri Santosh D. Vaidya,

  • Vice Chancellor, GGSIPU, Prof. (Dr.) Mahesh Verma,

  • Chief Coordinator, Steering Committee (LKI), Prof. Gagan Deep Sharma,

  • Registrar, GGSIPU, Dr. Kamal Pathak,

  • Distinguished faculty members, officers, participants and dear friends,

 

 

Delhi’s development priorities, are becoming increasingly, interconnected. Urban infrastructure, public transport, healthcare, education, water management, energy, and digital governance, cannot be planned, or delivered in isolation. 

 

As the city grows, and its requirements, become more complex, the challenge is to ensure, that public resources, institutional capacity, technology, and private-sector expertise, work together, to deliver better outcomes, for citizens.

 

This is the context, in which, we must examine, the role of Public-Private Partnerships, or PPPs, in advancing, the vision of, Viksit Delhi@2047.

 

A PPP, is not simply, an alternative source of financing. It is a framework, for combining public purpose, with private-sector capabilities, while clearly defining, responsibilities, risks, performance standards, and accountability. 

 

Our Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi Ji, has emphasised, the importance of this approach, in the context of, infrastructure development. Speaking about PM Gati Shakti, he said that, it would ensure, “true public-private partnership, in infrastructure creation, from infrastructure planning, to development, and utilization stage”.

 

For government officers, this requires a shift, from viewing projects, primarily through departmental responsibilities, to assessing them in terms, of their complete lifecycle, and public outcomes. A project may be, technically feasible, but financially unsustainable. 

 

It may attract private investment, but fail to deliver, affordable services. It may be completed, on schedule, but encounter difficulties, during operation, because maintenance arrangements, were inadequately designed. These considerations, must be addressed, at the planning stage, rather than, after implementation has begun.

 

The first principle, therefore, is to determine, whether a PPP is, the appropriate model, for a particular project. Not every public service, is suited to, the same delivery mechanism. The decision must be based, on the nature, of the service, the capacity, of the public authority, the potential, for private-sector participation, the distribution, of risks and the outcomes, expected by citizens. 

 

The second principle is, sound project preparation. Feasibility assessments, financial, and legal due dili-gence, realistic demand projections, stakeholder consultations, and clearly defined, performance standards, are essential to successful implementation. Equally important, is the allocation of risk. Risks should be assigned, to the party best equipped, to manage them, with contractual arrangements, that are realistic, transparent, and enforceable. 

 

The third principle is, institutional coordination. Large infrastructure and public-service projects, often involve several departments, regulators, local bodies, and other public agencies. Delays can arise, when responsibilities overlap, approvals are sequenced poorly, or decisions are taken, without adequate information-sharing. Better coordination, clearly defined institutional roles, and time-bound decision-making, can substantially, improve implementation. 

 

The fourth principle is, accountability. Private-sector participation, does not diminish, the government’s responsibility, to safeguard public interest. Contracts must establish, clear service standards, measurable performance indicators, monitoring arrangements, and appropriate mechanisms for incentives, penalties, and dispute resolution. Transparency must extend, throughout the project lifecycle, from procurement, and contract award, to service delivery, and performance evaluation. 

 

Delhi has opportunities, to apply these principles, across several sectors. Urban transport and mobility, require integrated systems, that connect infrastructure, with reliable services. Healthcare and education, can benefit, from carefully designed partnerships, in facilities, technology, and specialised services. 

 

Water management, waste processing, renewable energy, and digital governance, also offer areas, in which public objectives, can be advanced through appropriate, private-sector participation. 

 

It is equally important, to study projects, that have encountered difficulties. Understanding, why a partnership underperformed, can be as instructive, as examining one, that succeeded.

 

I am particularly encouraged, that this programme, brings together, the Government of Delhi, academia, and industry, through Guru Gobind Singh, Indraprastha University, acting as the Lead Knowledge Institution, under the State Institution of Transformation. 

 

The proposed PPP Playbook, can be an important outcome, of this initiative. I would encourage it, to be practical, and action-oriented, providing officers, with clear guidance, on identifying suitable projects, assessing feasibility, structuring contracts, allocating risks, coordinating approvals, and monitoring performance. 

 

As we work towards, Viksit Delhi@2047, the objective must be, to build a city, that is economically dynamic, environmentally sustainable, and capable of delivering efficient, accessible public services. 

 

Public-Private Partnerships, can contribute to this vision, when they are founded, on sound preparation, transparent processes, institutional coordination, and a clear commitment, to public outcomes.

 

Thank You.

Jai Hind.

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