Corrosion-tackling measures could boost India's GDP by 1.5 pc
New Delhi, Aug 3
India loses an estimated 4.3 per cent of GDP each year to corrosion - around Rs 14.1 trillion - and adopting stronger corrosion‑management practices could improve GDP by around 1.5 per cent, or Rs 5 trillion, a report said on Monday.
The report from Nomura Research Institute (NRI) said rapid infrastructure expansion, urbanisation and manufacturing growth have increased exposure to corrosion.
It has raised maintenance costs and shortened asset life across sectors with infrastructure, transport, power and telecom being among the most affected.
The firm said the global average GDP loss from corrosion stood at 3.4 per cent.
The firm recommended shifting public infrastructure projects tendering to lifecycle cost analysis rather than focusing primarily on upfront construction costs.
It called for strengthening Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) rules to align with global durability practices, and incorporating exposure-based durability requirements.
It suggested introducing modern testing methods and improving inspection and maintenance protocols for long-life assets along with adopting corrosion-resistant materials in sectors exposed to harsh environmental conditions, including renewable energy infrastructure.
Mandating stronger corrosion protection for steel-intensive sectors such as telecom, transport and public infrastructure was another major recommendation.
Corrosion is an economic and policy issue, not just an engineering challenge, the report said, urging policymakers to prioritise asset durability as India scales up investment in roads, railways, housing and renewable energy.
The report identified the power generation and transmission sector as having the highest corrosion intensity, with losses estimated at 10.1 per cent of sectoral GDP.
Annual corrosion‑related losses in railways were estimated at $3 billion, with the report calling for long‑life protection systems beyond periodic repainting.
India has over 8.13 lakh telecom towers supporting 2.948 million base transceiver stations, making the telecom sector face high corrosion intensity.
The report also argued that engineering standards and maintenance practices need to evolve alongside India's expanding infrastructure base.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is such an important issue that rarely gets attention. Living in Mumbai, I see how salt-laden air destroys everything from vehicles to building facades. My father worked in the railways for 35 years and always said they spend crores repainting bridges but never really fix the corrosion problem at its root. Hope policymakers actually act on these recommendations.
Sensible recommendations, but implementation is the real challenge. We have great reports every few years that gather dust. The point about BIS standards is critical though - global durability practices need to be adapted for Indian conditions. Coastal areas, high humidity, pollution... our infrastructure faces unique challenges. Also 8.13 lakh telecom towers is a LOT of assets needing protection 📱
The railway losses of $3 billion per year are staggering. Anyone who has traveled on Indian Railways knows the state of the tracks and bridges. While I appreciate the report's focus, we must remember that corrosion prevention requires upfront investment. With limited budgets, there's always a tension between expanding new infrastructure versus maintaining existing ones. Need a balanced approach.
This is where the rubber meets the road for Make in India and infrastructure push. If we're building for 50-100 years, we need to think beyond just construction cost. Also, renewable energy infrastructure in coastal areas like Gujarat and Tamil Nadu will face severe corrosion if not designed properly. Good to see NRI highlighting this. India needs durable, sustainable infrastructure 🇮🇳
Interesting comparison with the global average of 3.4%. India's 4.3
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