The second edition of India’s premier infrastructure awards were held at a function amidst presence of key industry leaders at The Grand, New Delhi. The KPMG - Infrastructure Today awards 2010, organized by ASAPP Media Information Group and KPMG and supported by the Pipavav Shipyard Limited (PSL) were presented to 14 companies / entities across three categories – Infrastructure Developers, Facilitators and Infrastructure Financier. The winners included GMR, GVK, Torrent Power Ltd., IRB Infrastructure Developers, Mundra Port and SEZ, Reliance Infrastructure Ltd., India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd., Ministry of Urban Development and the State of Gujarat.

The winners were selected by a respected panel of jury members comprising: Mr. Gunit Chaddha, Managing Director and CEO, Deutsche Bank, Mr. Ajay Saxena, PPP Expert, Asian Development Bank, Mr. S.S. Kohli, CMD, IIFCL, Mr. Rashesh Shah, Chairman and Managing Director, Edelweiss Capital Ltd., Mr. Sanjay Ubale, Managing Director and CEO, TATA Realty and Infrastructure Ltd., Mr. UPS Madan (IAS), Project Manager, Mumbai Transformation Support Unit & Mr. Arvind Mahajan, Executive Director, KPMG Advisory Services Pvt Ltd.

The awards were presented by Chief Guest Shri. Salman Khurshid, Honourable Minister for Corporate Affairs and Minority Affairs (Independent Charge), Government of India amidst two hundred senior professionals from the infrastructure industry across India who were present at the event.

The awards were presented across three categories of stakeholders, including infrastructure developers, Government agencies who facilitate infrastructure creation and infrastructure financiers. An award for the Project of the Year to Mumbai Metro One (Mumbai MRTS project) where the entities involved from the three stakeholder categories were recognized was also presented.  The awards process was based on a perception survey, where key industry leaders where asked to rank companies in each sector. The top ranked companies were presented to the jury panel, who selected the winners in each category.

“The key enablers for successful PPP project implementation such as robust concession documentation, equitable risk allocation, innovative debt structures, and effective resettlement and rehabilitation processes have improved significantly over the past year.  Certain stakeholders have led the way in driving these improvements.  It is both appropriate and imperative that the leaders of the principal stakeholders are recognized and honored for their invaluable role and ability to collaborate for success” explained Manish Agarwal, Executive Director, KPMG Advisory Services Pvt Ltd.

“Our intention with the 2nd edition is to create a wide spread recognition of the awards and institutionalize the concept of public recognition within the infrastructure sector with the expectation that it will foster an attitude of excellence and winning an organizational habit.” explained Arvind Mahajan, Executive Director, KPMG Advisory Services Pvt Ltd.

Addressing the audience Mr. Salman Khurshid said’ India has sought itself out of the slumber in the past 20 years and is fast emerging from its past to its future. Indian infrastructure is definitely poised to greater glories in the coming times and is also fast becoming a global market .It is extremely inspiring and impressive to see all the contribution from the industry in putting up the Indian face on the global platform.

“With US$ 500 billion being spent over the next five years by our government, we felt that high standards need to be set for achieving excellence in infrastructure projects. With this basic mission in mind we applied ourselves to this path-breaking exercise with KPMG,” explained Pratap Padode, President, FIRST (Foundation of Infrastructure Research Studies Training) which has entered into a PPP for enhancing standards of vocational training. FIRST is promoted by ASAPP Media Information Group. “The awards have brought about an era of transparency and brought about awareness of corporate governance