Category: Infrastructure Finance

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Infrascape 2013 | We do not expect any dramatic imp­rovement in 2013

Infrascape 2013 | We do not expect any dramatic imp­rovement in 2013

The year 2012 has been a challenging year for the logistics sector as the economic slowdown affected manufacturing leading to general decline in the movements of goods across sectors like auto, commercial vehicles, heavy engineering and capital goods. Tight credit situ­ation, no major policy reforms and weak demand made the situ­ation further difficult for the sector.

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Quality Infrastructure a catalyst to Vibrant Gujarat

Quality Infrastructure a catalyst to Vibrant Gujarat

Gujarat is known as a land of entrepreneurs where development is given special importance. Its state-of-the-art infrastructure ensures stable growth which also attracts heavy investments for the state, writes Maheshwar Sahu. Infrastructure is the foundation for any industrial and inclusive socio-economic development. No country or a state can make holistic progress or attract foreign and national investments unless it offers quality infrastructure to support the growth.

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GIFT City – India's first financial hub

GIFT City – India's first financial hub

GIFT City is one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken in the Indian infrastructure space and is being designed as a hub for the global finance services industry, writes Janaki Krishnamoorthi. Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City ), a multi-service SEZ (Special Economic Zone) with dedicated center for financial services is under development in Gujarat.

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Investors would love to invest in India if we get our act right

Investors would love to invest in India if we get our act right

There are mainly three reasons. First and the most immediate one is government departments are not paying in time. For instance, NHAI dues are aggregating upwards of Rs 25,000 crore. Some are disputed and others are not. If you ask NHAI they will deny any payments are due, but that is not the [right] answer. The government will need to be practical, in that somebody has done the work and money has been spent.

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Cost escalation ruins infra firms' hope

Cost escalation ruins infra firms' hope

The rising finance cost has eaten into the profit margins of major infrastructure firms in the first half of the current fiscal year. Infrastructure companies have witnessed a sharp increase in their finance cost during April-September 2012. An analysis of the financial statements of 16 infrastructure firms shows financial cost going up because of huge debt, tight monetary policy and high risk perception.

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Restructuring must be done only when viability is not in question

Restructuring must be done only when viability is not in question

Rather than having viability problems, infrastructure projects are typically “front-ended”, so it is often the mismatch between the lending and the project’s revenue-making tenures that lead to an increased likelihood of restructuring, says Arundhati Bhattacharya, MD & CEO of SBI Capital Markets in an interaction with Sumantra Das.

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IIFCL to raise funds via bond issue

IIFCL to raise funds via bond issue

India Infrastructure Finance Company (IIFCL) plans to use the fund raised through the forthcoming bond issue for long-term funding to PPP projects in sectors like power, infrastructure, etc, Chairman and Managing Director S K Goel said
The companyÂ’s Rs 1,500 crore bond issue with green shoe (over-allotment) option of up to the shelf limit of Rs 9,215 crore would open on December 26 and close on January 11. The bonds would be allotted on a first-come first-serve basis.

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National Electricity Fund

National Electricity Fund

The Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the setting up of National Electricity Fund (Interest Subsidy Scheme) to provide interest
subsidy aggregating to Rs 8,466 crore on loan disbursement amounting to Rs 25,000 crore to the State power utilities both in public and private sector, to improve the distribution network.

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RBI norms for lending to small units

RBI norms for lending to small units

In view of the increase in price index and cost inputs, Reserve Bank of India revised sub-targets for lending to the micro and small enterprises sector. According to the new norms, banks must divert 40 per cent of total advances to the sector to micro (manufacturing) enterprises having investment in plant and machinery up to Rs 10 lakh. The existing limit is Rs 5 lakh. The revision is within the overall ceiling of Rs 25 lakh for micro enterprises as defined in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterpr

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RBI maintains policy rates

RBI maintains policy rates

In its mid quarter monetary policy review, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept key policy rates (repo and reverse repo) unchanged. Cash reserve ratio (CRR) or the portion of deposits banks keep with the RBI was also unchanged at 4.25 percent. The central bank maintained its October guidance about policy easing in the fourth quarter given the recent inflation patterns and projections.