Budget 2020: Govt turns to asset monetisation as divestment target eludes

Hope rises for monetisation of Rs 1 trillion worth of assets by March 31

With the privatisation of a number of marquee state-owned companies unlikely to be completed this fiscal year, the Central government has turned to asset monetisation to come close to the ambitious 2019-20 divestment target of Rs 1.05 trillion.

Business Standard has learnt from sources in the government as well as asset reconstruction companies that processes are at an advanced stage for a number of assets of the Centre and central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) to be monetised. The assets include office space, apartments, factories, land, power transmission assets, sports stadia, gas pipelines, and telecom assets.

“A lot of departments and CPSEs have