In August 2007, ProjectsToday monitored 688 new projects entailing a total investment of Rs.22,151 crore. Though in terms of numbers, the services and Infrastructure sector saw the announcement of 529 new projects, in terms of investment commitments, it was the Manufacturing sector that accounted for nearly 54 per cent of the total fresh investments announced during August 2007.

The Manufacturing sector and the Basic Metals sector, showed the highest investment due to Bharat Aluminium Company's (Balco) plan to invest Rs.8,100 crore in setting up a 6.50 lakh tpa aluminum smelter in Korba district of Chhattisgarh. This project brought the Chhattisgarh state ahead among all other states, with a total investment of Rs.10,289 crore. Andhra Pradesh ranks as the second largest state with an investment of Rs.3,800 crore.

Of the 40 new power projects, two were of mega size. The first one was East Coast Energy's 1,200 MW (2x600 MW) coal based power unit being set up at a coastal location in Andhra Pradesh. The second was Konaseema Gas Power's Rs.2,194 crore capacity expansion of 820 MW (2X410 MW) combined gas power plant at Devarpally in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.

During August 2007, information on 27 SEZs that was gathered by ProjectsToday, reported progress. Around 18 amongst the 27 are IT SEZs. These include the proposal of L&T Hitech City, a JV with L&T Infocity and Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) to set up a Rs.380 crore IT/ITES SEZ at Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh (for further details on this project see pg.11), and Tata Consultancy Services plans to set up an IT SEZ at Siruseri and Egattur in Chennai. Biocon India also plans to set up a bio-technology SEZ at Anekal in Bangalore.

In the Shipping Infrastructure sector, Chennai Port Trust planned to set up a mega terminal for container handling at an estimated cost of Rs.3,050 crore. The Steel sector saw two MoUs being signed for two integrated steel plants in Chhattisgarh.

On 17 August 2007, Steel Authority of India, NMDC and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam signed an MoU for setting up a 4 mln tpa integrated steel unit in Chhattisgarh. During August 2007, Prakash Industries also signed an MoU with the state government for setting up 1.2 mln tpa integrated steel unit along with a 560 MW coal based power unit and 3 mln tpa coal washery unit in Chhattisgarh. On 21 August 2007, the Maharashtra government signed MoUs with three different companies, which is going to bring an investment of around Rs.833 crore. It includes Birla Cotsyn's investment of Rs.315 crore to expand operations of cotton ginning, pressing and spinning mill, that will be spread over 100 acres of land at Khamgaon and Malkapur in the Vidarbha region, another is Precision Automation & Robotics India's Rs.258 crore investment at Khandala in Satara district to set up its design and manufacturing facility, and ISMT Ltd's Rs.260 crore expansion project at Baramati in Pune.

In the Construction sector, around 56 new commercial complexes and shopping malls were announced across the country. In addition, ProjectsToday also collected information on 220 Real Estate projects, which were currently at different stages of their work development. The major project announced in the Real Estate sector, was Sailee Developer's residential complex 'Prathamesh Heights' at Borivali (West) in Mumbai, comprising of 40 floors with 360 flats.

During August 2007, ProjectsToday collected information on 31 new hospital projects and 35 hotels across the India. In the Hospital sector, Wockhardt Hospitals plans to set up nine hospitals at various locations in India, for which the company floated an IPO to part finance the project.

Of the total projects announced during August 2007, 191 projects with a total investment of Rs.7,174 crore were by the State and Central government agencies. Private entities accounted for the balance 497 projects worth Rs.14,977 crore.