Tamil Nadu’s capital expenditure grew over 16% in fiscal 2025

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Tamil Nadu’s capital expenditure grew over 16% to ₹46,076.54 crore in fiscal 2025, when compared to ₹39,540.90 crore in fiscal 2024, according to the preliminary un-audited provisional figures from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).

Capital expenditure (capex) goes towards creation of fixed assets, such as roads and bridges, irrigation structures, schools, hospitals, along with investments made in Public Sector Undertakings. It helps in improving economic activity and generating employment.

The capital expenditure for fiscal 2025 is also in line with the projection made in the revised estimates. The overall Capital Expenditure in the Revised Estimates was projected at ₹46,766 crore, as compared to ₹47,681 crore in the initial Budget Estimates for 2024-25, as per the State Budget for 2025-2026.

“The 16% growth in fiscal 2025 indicates a sustained focus on capex by the State government. The capex growth achieved in fiscal 25 provisional is much better than the compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.3% during fiscal 2018-2024,” Paras Jasrai, associate director, India Ratings & Research, said.

He said this is a positive development. “In fact, a better way to look at it is comparing the actual overall capex (including loans and advances) as a proportion of the budgeted numbers. A closer look at the data reveals that Tamil Nadu has met 95.2% of the budgeted target in fiscal 2025, which is much better than fiscal 2024 number of 86.2% and 95.4% in fiscal 2023, as well as the average of 88.1% during FY18-FY24,” Mr. Jasrai said.

According to him, the State has also fared better in terms of quality of expenditure. The quality of expenditure can be gauged by capital outlay to total expenditure (COTE). The COTE stood at 12.2% in fiscal 2025 provisional numbers and has hit a three-year high (it was 12.6% in fiscal 2022), Mr. Jasrai said. The metric for fiscal 2025 provisional is also better than the average of 11.4% during fiscal 2018-fiscal 2024.

For fiscal 2026, the State government has estimated capital expenditure of ₹57,231 crore, which is a growth of 22.38% from the revised estimates for fiscal 2025.

The total capital outlay of the State, including Net Loans and Advances, is estimated at ₹65,328 crore in the Budget Estimates 2025-26. “Capex remains a sustained focus for the government, which is quite favourable for the continuing the economic momentum in the state. The State has been actively focusing on fiscal consolidation as evident even in the FY26 budget,” Mr. Jasrai said.

Published - May 26, 2025 11:12 am IST