On the expressway
-
28/02/2006
-
Business Line (New Delhi)
It appears to be a Budget focussed on infrastructure-led growth. Bharat Nirman is likely to emerge as the biggest provider of business for infrastructure companies. Rural water supply, irrigation and road projects would ensure steady flow of revenues for even small and mid-cap companies such as Era Construction or PBA Infrastructure. Increase in the corpus of the Rural Infrastructure Development fund to Rs 10,000 crore will further ease the financing position for rural projects. The Budget outlay for irrigation for 2006-07 has increased by 58 per cent compared to 2005-06. Another development in the space is the programme for repair, renovation and restoration of water bodies at a cost of Rs 4,481 crore funded through multi-lateral agencies. Provision under Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission has also increased by 30 per cent to Rs 4,680 crore.