Friend or foe?

Private sector infrastructure companies, which are in public-private partnerships for roads and other construction projects, are facing a unique problem. While members of the government and local municipality meet the infrastructure company representatives regularly as business partners because they have a stake in these projects, the same officials change their hats and sue these companies for not securing enough clearances, delaying these projects in the process. Many professionals in the sector feel that this situation is untenable because the government or the municipal corporation, as a partner in the business, has to more responsible. "The person who is discussing the project with me should not be derailing it. This has hurt infrastructure companies badly," says an industry hand.