Road, rail and defence lead FY26 capex surge; overall spend at 52%

The ministries of Road Transport & Highways and Railways have exceeded the national average capital expenditure (capex) by spending 63 per cent and 57 per cent of Budget estimates (BE), respectively, in the first half of 2025-26 (FY26). The total capital expenditure for April-September of FY26 stood at 52 per cent of the BE, according to the latest data by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA). The increased capex spending includes ₹50,000 crore disbursed to the department of food and public distribution against a budget allocation of ₹20 crore for FY26. Without this amount, the increase in total capital expenditure of the