Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Corrosion Costs India Infrastructure ₹1.42 Lakh Crore Annually
Corrosion happens when materials such as steel slowly deteriorate because of their surroundings.
A new report says this problem costs India's infrastructure sector about ₹1.42 lakh crore every year.
Infrastructure includes roads, bridges, buildings, railways, airports and ports.
The report says better planning could save up to ₹49,580 crore annually.
It recommends choosing protection based on factors such as humidity, coastal conditions and how long an asset must last.
The report says protection should be planned before construction begins, rather than added only after damage appears.
It also says the cheapest option at the start may not be the cheapest over time.
For example, hot-dip galvanizing costs slightly more initially but may protect assets for more than 100 years without routine coating maintenance.
The report calls for stronger standards, inspections and training.
Corrosion costs India's infrastructure sector an estimated ₹1.42 lakh crore each year, equal to about 2.9% of sector GDP.
Improved prevention and protection could save the infrastructure sector up to ₹49,580 crore annually.
Across India's economy, corrosion costs about ₹14.15 lakh crore a year, or 4.3% of GDP.
The report recommends exposure-based protection standards, service-life frameworks, stronger inspections and lifecycle-cost analysis.
It says hot-dip galvanizing can offer more than 100 years of protection, while repeated repainting makes multi-coat paint costlier over an asset's lifetime.
- Who
- The Confederation of Indian Industry and Nomura Research Institute produced the report, with comments from Ashim Sharma and M.V. Satish.
- What
- A report estimates the annual economic cost of corrosion and recommends stronger prevention and protection measures for infrastructure.
- When
- The report was presented at the CII Annual Infrastructure Summit 2026.
- Where
- The report was presented in New Delhi, India.
- Why
- To reduce corrosion-related losses, maintenance costs and deterioration of infrastructure assets.
- Annual infrastructure corrosion cost
- ₹1.42 lakh crore
- Potential annual infrastructure savings
- Up to ₹49,580 crore
- Infrastructure corrosion cost as share of sector GDP
- About 2.9%
- Annual corrosion cost across India's economy
- About ₹14.15 lakh crore, or 4.3% of GDP
- Potential economy-wide savings
- Up to ₹4.95 lakh crore, equivalent to a 1.5% increase in GDP
- Hot-dip galvanizing
- Costs about 10% more upfront and can provide more than 100 years of protection without routine maintenance coating
- Recommended focus
- Exposure-based protection, lifecycle economics, stronger inspection and improved technical training