Social infra: Viability gap funding boost may help create 45k hospital beds

Hospitals are a key part of social infrastructure now with the coronavirus pandemic raging across the country.

In the fourth tranche of her stimulus announcements, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday announced an increase in viability gap funding (VGF) for development of social infrastructure to 30 per cent.

For the creation of social infrastructure projects supported by the central government, states or statutory bodies, the government made a provision of Rs 8,100 crore, which will be in the form of VGF.

For other sectors, existing support in terms of VGF of 20 per cent each from the government, state or statutory bodies shall continue, Sitharaman said.