In January 2008, ProjectsToday monitored 596 new project proposals. These projects involve a total investment of around Rs.15,800 crore. Of the 596 projects, 27 were of large size with investments involving Rs.100 crore or more.

Notwithstanding the imminent fear of slowdown in the Real Estate sector, the month saw the announcement of 189 new real estate projects with a total investment of Rs.3,074 crore across India. Of these, two were of large size. The first one was proposed by the Mumbai based Purvankara Project. The company plans to develop a mega housing 'Purva Windermere' at Pallikarnai in Chennai district of Tamil Nadu. The housing complex would be surrounded by three lakes and spread over 54 acres of land. It would have 2,072 apartments of 2/3 BHK types. The complex will be equipped with amenities like club house, yoga centre, gymnasium, steam and swimming pool with provisions for super market, restaurants, outdoor children play area and landscaped garden.

The second largest Real Estate project of the month was announced by the Lucknow-based Sahara group. Sahara has drawn up a Rs.1000 crore plan to develop townships in Anantapur and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh. Each township will spread over 300 acres of land and will be implemented in three phases. Each phase will have 100 acres of land, comprising of a total 3,000 apartments in each township It will have various amenities like ample car parking, tennis court, volleyball court, swimming pool and large cricket stadium with fled lights.

RNS Infrastructure a Bangalore based real estate company plans to develop a residential complex in Bangalore at a total cost of Rs. 600 crore. The complex will spread over 100 acres of land, comprising of 2,500 apartments with various modern amenities.

However, the star project of the month was IFFCO's proposed Food Processing SEZ. The fertiliser manufacturing co-operative company intends to set up the SEZ involving farmers in the Nellore district. Accordingly it has christened the project as ‘Kisan SEZ’. The proposed SEZ spread across 2,800 acres of land is expected to cost around Rs.2,400 crore.

Projects investment in the Wind based power sector has taken an upswing during 2007. To encash the boom, Belgium-based Hansen Drives has announced its intention to set up a Rs.1,500 crore wind turbine gearbox and industrial gearbox manufacturing unit at Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. The company's global plan is to increase its wind turbine gearbox manufacturing capabilities nearly four-fold, from 3,800 MW per annum as of March 2007 to 14,300 MW by 2012.

During January 2008, 80 new power projects were announced with an investment of Rs.1,402 crore, of which, 58 belonged to Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA). The state agency, proposes to develop these 58 small hydel power projects in collaboration with private promoters on BOO basis.

The coal-based power sector saw two additional mega projects being announced. Mahanadi Aban Power Company, a SPV floated by Aban Power announced its intentions to set up a pithead coal based power unit with a capacity of 1,030 MW (2x515 MW) at Dhenkanal in Orissa and Gupta Coalfields & Washeries plans to set up a 1,000 MW coal based power plant in Chatra , Jharkhand.

In the Manufacturing sector, the Cement industry saw eight more projects with an aggregate capacity of 7.61 mln tpa being announced in January 2008.

Shree Cement and Monnet Ispat & Energy eah will set up one plant of 2 mln tpa in Raipur, Chhattisgarh and Chettinad Cement Corporation will house its new 2 mln tpa unit in Tiruchchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.

The month also saw signing of three major MoUs. On 04 January 2008, Greater Mohali Area Development Authority signed a MoU with AAI and Haryana Government to develop an international airport at Mohali in Rupnagar, Punjab. On 05 January 2008, UKbased Caparo Group signed a MoU with the Andhra Pradesh government for setting up an auto and aerospace component hub at Naidupet in Nellore district. On 10 January 2008, Gail (India) signed a MoU with Coal India to set up of a surface coal gasification project, at an investment of Rs.2,400 crore.

During January 2008, ProjectsToday also gathered information on the following five new SEZs: