Chapter 14 Infrastructure Development through PPPs: Framework of Guiding Principles for Sustainability Assessment

Indicators-based framework has been developed for the sustainability assessment of infrastructure projects but this framework has limitations in quantifying the qualitative parameters. The top-down approach that utilizes principles to assess the sustainability of infrastructure projects has the ability to consider qualitative parameters. The research on the development of principles-based approach is however limited and, in fact, the study on the development of principles to assess the sustainability of public–private partnerships (PPPs) infrastructure projects is in a nascent stage. The purpose of this study is the development of an empirical framework of guiding principles that will facilitate the assessment of PPPs from sustainability perspective. The study has used a grounded theory qualitative approach by using interviews and literature as primary and secondary data sources, respectively, to develop the framework of guiding principles to achieve goals of sustainable infrastructure development through PPPs. The framework comprises 18 guiding principles, which will act as guidelines to facilitate promotion of sustainable practices throughout the life cycle of PPP project so that sustainability goals can be accomplished. The guiding principles could be used as the qualitative parameters for public and private sector to assess the sustainability of PPP infrastructure projects. This chapter presents critical insights on principle-based approach for sustainability assessment of PPP projects, which has not been the focus in the majority of earlier studies.