R.Balaji Manikanta

• Institutional strengthening of Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), Bangladesh ADB funded (completed) : Conducted feasibility studies for emerging sectors such as electric vehicles (EVs), health, and education in Bangladesh. This included comprehensive market assessments, identifying key private players, and engaging with them to understand their expansion plans, investment needs, and policy-level challenges hindering investments. Additionally, interacted with sector-specific public agencies, including health and education departments/ministries, to gather insights on planned initiatives aimed at boosting private investments in these sectors. The study resulted in the identification of a pipeline of 17 profitable projects with an estimated cost of 5000 crore taka (~ US$ 454 million) for IDCOL to pursue over the next 4–5 years, many of which have already been materialized.
• Development of new campuses for University of Technology, Mauritius (UTM) and Mauritius Institute of Education (MIE) on PPP mode, Government of Mauritius (ongoing): Interacted with UTM's & MIE's representatives to understand deep, the need for these campuses including the infrastructure update, student migration to the country, challenges being faced by students etc; Accompanied the site survey with the technical team to understand the geographies where the campuses are being built; Supported the team in building a robust financial considering the student inflow trend, infrastructure requirements including conference halls, smart classrooms, canteen, discussion corners etc; Supported the team in finalisation the draft structuring report -providing possible PPP structures for the project.
• Development of Model Bidding Documents for Public Private Partnership Projects and Procurement Templates for Business-to-Business Scheme, KIAT - Indonesia Australia Partnership for Infrastructure (ongoing): Supporting the larger team of international experts in developing three sets of Model Bidding Documents (MBDs) for National Public Procurement Agency/LKPP) in developing three sets of Model Bidding Documents (MBDs) in line with the new Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Procurement Regulation that can be practically adopted by Government Contracting Agencies (GCAs) to accelerate the PPP procurement process. in line with the new Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Procurement Regulation that can be practically adopted by Government Contracting Agencies (GCAs) to accelerate the PPP procurement process.
• Feasibility Study to Set Up a Guarantee Scheme for the Development Bank of Seychelles’ (DBS) Blue Economy Loans and Build Capacity in Project Evaluation under the GOS-GEF-UNDP Project (to be started): Supporting the larger team of stakeholders in undertaking the team in analysing the existing policies supporting the blue economy and assess the regulatory & guarantee mechanisms; Assessment of financial institutions in the country in managing these guarantee schemes and their alignment with blue economy objectives; Market assessment including demand (financing needs fisheries enterprises, SMEs and challenges including high credit risks, lack of collateral etc); and supply analysis (reviewing existing financial instruments, credit facilities available for blue economy project and identify the gaps); Developing case studies and benchmarking with similar guarantee schemes globally; Scheme design including development financial model with eligibility criteria, pricing, cost analysis and sources of funding for this scheme
• Development of Sub National Finance Monitor (SNFM), The World Bank (completed) : Desk reviewing and analyzing the institutional, capital account, revenue account, market side and demand side of sub national governments of Vietnam; Co-ordinating with country expert of Vietnam/ Malaysia to develop SNFM framework for the respective countries
• Business Development (completed): Supporting the team in business development activities across various sectors and geographies which include tracking tenders, shortlisting the opportunities. Further, preparing the proposals, technical write ups and leveraging connections with external experts and partner organisations to strengthen the bid

Various consulting assignments with National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Government of India: Involved in preparation of Bid documents such as NIT, RFP and DCA for the project stretches; Co-ordinating with Legal team to achieve the Financial Closure for the projects; Preparation of Pitch Reports/ Presentations for Investors; Co-ordinating with Technical consultants for collecting the traffic data to feed in the model to run the analysis; Development of Financial model to calculate IECV (Initial Estimated Concession Value) for each project stretch, in case of ToT; Market outreach to potential Bidders; assisting the Client in preparation of pre-bid replies; Undertake evaluation of Bids and presenting the evaluation report to the Client; Supporting the Client in Transaction Closure and signing of Concession Agreement

Tamil Nadu Urban Flagship Investment Programme, ADB funded & Commissionerate of Municipal Administration (CMA), Government of Tamil Nadu: Assisting CMA in establishing a technical center called Project Management & Design Center (PMDC) that cover four broad components viz., Planning, Design, Supervision and Project Management. Develop the detailed institutional framework that handhold the Urban Local Bodies in the State in respect of preparation of City Wide Concept Plans, Service Level Improvement Plans, carryout the required investigation, design, procurement and implementation and also ensure all require compliances; Suggest monitoring tools using PMIS/latest IT tools and techniques; Co-ordinating with other key stakeholders of the project like Tamil Nadu Water and Sewerage Board (TWAD Board), Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Services Limited (TNUIFSL) etc. to understand their view point of this centre; Supported the key experts in preparation of extensive training modules for Engineering, ULB and PMDC staff in the urban infrastructure space and logistic support and Co-ordinating with International experts and national experts in developing technical manuals for each engineering departments

Consultancy project of Treated Waste Water (TWW) Reuse on PPP basis, Government of Gujarat: Undertook feasibility studies, viability gap assessment, project structuring, preparation of Tender Documents based on Model Documents/ CVC guidelines, Bid Process Management, Marketing of projects to potential bidders; Development of robust financial models with viability metrics such as NPV, IRR, DSCR for various projects; Preparation of Technical and Financial Appraisal reports, Assistance in signing of Concession Agreement; Involved in various co-ordination works for the client viz; Project specific presentations, preparation of State High Power Committee Agendas and State Level Technical Agendas; Successfully completed the PPP transactions for Gandhinagar and Jamnagar Treated Waste Water Re-use projects.

Various PPP consulting assignments for Department of Tourism, Government of Jharkhand, Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation Limited (JTDCL), Government of Jharkhand, Jharkhand Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (JUIDCo), Government of Jharkhand: Assisted the Tourism Department in feasibility studies, business models for various projects with viability metrices such as NPV, IRR, DSCR and overall bid process management for their various tourism projects (passenger ropeways, wayside amenities etc.) on PPP mode and involved in various co-ordination works viz Project specific presentations, preparation of minutes, client management etc: Assisted the JUIDCo in procurement process for selection of contractor for Adityapur Water Supply Project based on FIDIC standard bidding documents

Supporting multiple teams for various assignments:

• Documenting the successive case studies, training chapters/ notes on PPP Infrastructure projects across various sectors viz urban-water supply; transport; education, health care and solid waste management, for a Capacity Building under Smart Cities Mission (Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs) assignment
• Developing powerpoint presentations

Summer Intern: Worked under the Business Development team, where I developed portfolios from all public banks in Chennai to analyze the infrastructure sector (Road, Health, Road etc.) portfolio/to other major portfolios.