Under pressure from banks, who are refusing to lend, state utilities are poring over the new reports by Shunglu and BK Chaturvedi Committees. Is franchise the best way forward, though? At 31 percent, the national average on AT&C losses are unacceptably high. Quantified, this amounts to nearly Rs 70,000 crore of losses, and the Finance Commission fears that this amount will rise to Rs 1.16 lakh crore by 2014-15.
FlashNews:
Sovereign Cloud Emerges as India’s AI‑Ready Digital Foundation
Shivalaya Construction Secures ERES‑47 Transmission SPV for Eastern Grid Expansion from RECPDCL
India’s Open Mobility Pioneer Takes Its Ride‑Hailing Model to Europe
NTPC, Africa50 Join Forces to Develop Power Projects Across Africa
NHAI Introduces Independent Design Checks for Major Bridges and Critical Highway Structures
SITA to Acquire Collins Aerospace Airport Solutions, Expanding Global Airport Technology Capabilities
RITES Dispatches First 18‑Coach Rake to Bangladesh Railway under Export Contract
AM/NS India Signs Pact to Upgrade Four ITIs in Andhra Pradesh under PM‑SETU
KONE Opens India’s First Digital Experience Centre in Pune to Drive Smart Building Innovation
NTPC Seeks Industrial Partners for 26% Equity in Co‑Generation Projects
India Businesses Advance AI, Digital Tools and Sustainability: Autodesk Report
Modi Opens India Mobile Congress, Says Nation Has Shifted from Consumer to Creator
Air India, Akasa Join IndiGo in Raising Fares as ATF Costs Surge 25%
Tata Power Partners with Norway’s Ocean Sun to Pilot Membrane‑Based Floating Solar in India
New Relic Rolls Out Infrastructure 360 for Faster, Smarter AI Operations
Inox Green Completes ₹5.5 Billion Acquisition of Wind World’s 4.5 GW O&M Business
Air India, Singapore Airlines Deepen Partnership to Expand Travel Options, Loyalty Benefits
Alok Tiwari Takes Additional Charge as DFCCIL MD, Pushes Tech‑Driven Freight Corridor Agenda
India Launches Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority to Cut Costs and Boost Connectivity
Bracing Up
Since we're in December, it's probably a good time to look back at the year. The 6.9 per cent quarterly growth figures for the previous quarter come in the year's sunset month, and the fiscal year's growth is now downgraded to about 7.3 per cent.
There will be visible improvement in port connectivity in 3-4 years
In his interview with Sudheer Vathiyath and Shashidhar Nanjundaiah, K Mohandas, Secretary, Union Ministry of Shipping, highlights some of the initiatives from the government in port connectivity, including ro-ro services, inland waterways on PPP, and more.
It's not a bridge – it's a gamechanger
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) recently issued Request for Quotation (RFQ) for the much-awaited trans-harbour link from Mumbai's Sewri and Nhava and Jawaharlal Nehru Ports, with further linkages to other ports.
On the foothills of an uncertain year
One of the key challenges in infrastructure is facilitating the flow of projected but large amounts of capital into infrastructure. Current trends indicate that there might be a funding shortfall of over $300 billion,
Vibrancy of infra sectors will continue: Montek
"Which is the most progressive state in infrastructure?" "Where are the problem areas?" "Is desalination feasible in states where power is a problem?" "What do you think will happen?"
Port connectivity: The efficiency linkages
Bankers say ports are one of the best sectors to finance to. With the frenetic growth envisaged in the 2020 Agenda, port connectivity is impatiently awaited as the government works on four-lane roads and rail lines linking the gateways to the hinterland.
Vizhinjam gears up external infra
As his port hopes to compete with Vallarpadam as a state-owned transshipment hub, Manoj Joshi, CEO, Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (VISL), and Secretary (Ports), Kerala Government, responds to questions from Infrastructure Today.
Credit ratings: Need for a different rating mechanism
Conventional investment credit ratings-typically lower than desirable for infrastructure projects-constrain financing infrastructure investments in India, says Dhruba Purkayastha. So should the methodology be revisited?
Infrascape 2012 | Highways: EPC will gain momentum next year
Highways have been largely on an upswing. We have awaÂrded-or set to award upon opening bids-4,500 km, and will be awarding a minimum of 3,000 km by the end of this fiscal. The industry has been gung ho about the sector,

