Three years after IDBI became a bank, Yogesh Agarwal, bank's third chairman and managing director in as many years, is trying to put the pieces in place. After all, as he pointed out in an interview with Business Standard, the erstwhile development financial institution is grappling with a unique situation, where IDBI and the two commercial banks it acquired since 2005 offer loans at different interest rates.
Lenders ask RBI to ensure cheaper credit for infrastructure sector. Banks say while hardening of rates may be required to combat inflation, even a 50 basis point rise could render many projects unviable. In a meeting with RBI, bankers factored in the impact of higher interest rates on most sectors as a part of the inflation management drive but indicated that the government & the central bank should take steps to ensure cheaper credit for building roads, power plants & ports.