The 782 new projects entailing a total investment of Rs.40,152 crore in the Services sector accounted for nearly half of the total fresh investment announced in May 2008. Within the Services sectors, Roadways, Railways, Real Estates, Commercial Complexes and Industrial Parks sectors saw increased investment activities.

The Roadways sector saw NHAI announcing 59 new projects and Public Works Departments of various state governments announcing 129 projects for upgrading existing roads in their respective states. Southern Railways has announced their intention to set up 56 R-OBs across Southern India, of which, 29 will come up in Tamil Nadu.

In the Construction sector (Real Estate, Commercial Complexes and Industrial Parks), 353 new projects were identified by ProjectsToday in May 2008. Among the new projects announced in this sector, notable ones were the Reliance Infrastructure Business Complex in Hyderabad and Videocon Group's industrial park in Andhra Pradesh.

Reliance Infrastructure of the Mukesh Ambani Group, announced a proposal to build India's first 100-storeyed commercial complex in Hyderabad over 80 acres of land. The facility will be set up in joint venture with Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation.

Yeswanth Industrial Infrastructure Projects, an SPV floated by Videocon Industries with SMS Pharmaceuticals and WhiteField Paper Mills, has identified plans to set up a multi-product industrial park at Perupalem in West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh. The park to spread on 5,000 acres of land will also include a 1,320 MW thermal based power unit, a multi-product SEZ and an industrial residency. The Rs.7,600 crore project is expected to take off once the required land is allotted by the state government.

The 26 new power projects announced during May 2008 include three mega thermal power projects. Of these, two were by Gujarat-based Adani Group and one by Atlas Power India. Adani Power is developing the two projects through its subsidiaries. Adani Power Dahej is planning a 1,980 MW coal based power project at Dahej in Gujarat at a cost of Rs.8,881 crore, while Adani Power Rajasthan plans to set up a 1,320 MW coal based power project in Baran, Rajasthan.

Karnataka-based Atlas Power India has received necessary clearances from the state government to set up a 1,320 MW coal based power project at Yadugiri in the state. The company claims that the required land has already been acquired.

In the Manufacturing sector, 200 new projects worth Rs.19,400 crore were announced in May 2008. Paper, Cement and Steel sectors saw brisk investment activities in the month.

In the Paper sector, three large projects were announced. BILT Graphic & Paper and Century Pulp and Paper announced mega expansion plans worth Rs.950 crore and Rs.500 crore, respectively. Sunshine Papers India plans to set up a 350 tpd paper unit at Rangampeta in Andhra Pradesh. The Rs.300 crore project will be supported by a 12 MW coal based captive power plant.

The upbeat mood witnessed in the Cement sector since the last few months continued in May 2008 also. Fourteen new cement projects with annual capacity of around 10 million tonne were announced in the month.

In the Iron & Steel sector, 42 new projects involving investment worth Rs.4,459 crore were announced. Though most of the projects were of small size, the projects of Ankit Metals, Maithan Ispat and Sree Metalliks involved sizeable investments.

During May 2008, ProjectsToday also gathered information on the following nine SEZs: