Vishvaraj Infrastructure to invest $871m in India’s wastewater treatment market

Vishvaraj Infrastructure is to invest around Rs60bn ($871m) in the next five years as it aims to expand its presence in India’s wastewater treatment market.

It plans to generate around Rs25bn ($363m) in revenue from this segment.

Vishvaraj Infrastructure chairman and managing director Arun Lakhani told Press Trust of India: "Around 38,250 MLD of wastewater is generated by tier-I and II cities, which is estimated to grow 3.5 times to 1,32,250 MLD by 2050.

"We see this as a huge market for sewage treatment and reuse for commercial purposes."

The company initially began with build operate and transfer (BOT) road projects in the state of Maharashtra and later has moved out into integrated water supply, wastewater treatment segments.

Although the company will continue to focus on road projects for generating most of its revenues, it intends to raise its focus on water segment as well.

The firm is planning to move into the states of Rajasthan, Karnataka, Haryana, West Bengal and Bihar to tap wastewater treatment and water supply markets.

At present, the firm is carrying out water supply projects at Nagpur in the state of Maharashtra, and Magadi, Bidar and Basavakalyan in the state of Karnataka.

In addition, it has taken up a $42m sewage water treatment project in Nagpur.

The country’s present wastewater treatment capacity is around 30% of the complete generation, with 55% of this operational.