India's northeastern region is facing a growing challenge from corrosion-related deterioration of bridges, highways, railway infrastructure and other public assets due to its demanding climatic conditions, according to a recently released report by consulting firm Nomura. The findings come as the region continues to witness large-scale infrastructure development supported by government investments over the past decade. 
The report noted that the Northeast has seen substantial investments in roads, bridges, railway connectivity, airports, power transmission networks and border infrastructure. However, it said the region's heavy rainfall, prolonged humidity, difficult terrain and expanding strategic infrastructure have created conditions that accelerate corrosion, affecting the durability and service life of public assets. 
According to the report, infrastructure in the Northeast cannot be planned using the same engineering specifications followed in drier parts of the country. It stated that climate-responsive corrosion protection should become a core part of infrastructure planning to ensure long-term performance and reduce maintenance requirements. 
Rahul Sharma, Director of the International Zinc Association (India), said protecting infrastructure assets should now receive the same importance as creating them. He pointed out that preserving the durability of these assets is essential as governments continue investing in new infrastructure across the region. 
The report has been released at a time when the Centre is expanding several strategic projects across the Northeast, including national highways, railway lines, inland waterways, power transmission corridors, border roads and urban infrastructure. In recent years, the government has also prioritised connectivity in the region under programmes such as the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and various highway expansion initiatives to improve economic integration and border connectivity. 
Experts cited in the report said the Northeast's high humidity, extended monsoon season and difficult accessibility significantly increase maintenance costs, making infrastructure durability both an economic and operational priority. They recommended shifting towards exposure-based engineering standards, where corrosion protection systems are selected according to the environmental conditions in which an asset will function instead of following a uniform approach across all regions. 
The report also urged policymakers to move beyond public procurement systems based only on the L1 or lowest-cost bidding model. It stated that selecting infrastructure solutions solely on the basis of the lowest initial cost often results in much higher maintenance expenditure throughout the life of an asset. Instead, it recommended lifecycle cost-based decision-making, which considers long-term maintenance and operational costs while helping governments optimise public spending and improve the reliability and lifespan of infrastructure. 
It further stated that incorporating internationally accepted corrosion management practices during the design and construction stages can reduce lifecycle costs, improve asset availability and generate better returns on public investment. According to the report, every additional year that bridges, railway structures or transmission towers remain operational without requiring major repairs leads to economic savings while strengthening regional connectivity and resilience. It added that infrastructure durability should be viewed as a strategic investment rather than merely a maintenance issue. 
The report also linked corrosion management to India's long-term development goals, stating that building resilient infrastructure suited to local environmental conditions will be as important as expanding infrastructure capacity across the country. 
Nomura estimated that India loses around INR 14 lakh crore, equivalent to about 4.3 per cent of the country's GDP, every year due to corrosion-related deterioration of bridges, highways, railways and other public assets. It added that India's cost of corrosion is estimated at around INR 14,14,840 crore, which is higher than the global average of 3.4 per cent of GDP. The report warned that the country's above-average corrosion costs pose an increasing macroeconomic risk and could affect future economic growth if left unaddressed. 
It further stated that adopting globally accepted corrosion protection and management practices could potentially improve India's GDP by nearly 1.5 per cent, while also increasing the lifespan, reliability and overall efficiency of critical infrastructure assets. 
Source PTI