In April 2008, ProjectsToday monitored 1,007 new projects entailing a total investment of approximately Rs.90,275 crore. The dominance of the Manufacturing sector continued in this month also. This sector accounted for 41 per cent of the total fresh investment announced in the month. Within the manufacturing sector, Power, Steel and Automobiles have attracted maximum investment.

Of the major projects announced in April 2008, three were by relatively new companies. DB Power Ltd., a company owned by Mr. Dilip Bhide is planning to set up a Coal Based Power Unit in Chattisgarh with a capacity of 1,320 MW. The project is estimated to cost Rs.5,500 crore. The IEM for the same was filed, by the company on 24 January 2008.

Bramhani Industries Ltd., an entity owned by Mr. Gali Janardhana Reddy is planning to set up a 2.50 mln tpa capacity finished steel plant at Cuddapah in Andhra Pradesh, at an estimated cost of Rs.4,500 crore. The project will be set up in collaboration with civil contractor, Nagarjuna Construction Co. Ltd. and consultant China Shougang International Trade and Engineering. Bramhani Industries also issued a LoI to China Shougang International Trade and Engineering Corporation, to construct a modern coke oven complex (Rs.480 crore), blast furnace and sinter plants (Rs.450 crore) for the same integrated steel plant. The total contract is valued at Rs.930 crore.

The third large project was announced by Meenakshi Group. The group is planning to set up a 4X135 MW Coal Based Power Unit at Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. The estimated cost of the project as on 10 April 2008, was Rs.2678.40 crore. The project consultants are 'Development Consultants Pvt. Ltd.’

Steel sector saw two more large project announcements, a 2.80 mln tpa capacity finished steel project in Jharkand, at an estimated cost of Rs.6,000 crore. The project is at the planning stage. The second mega project came from Jindal Photo Ltd. The company plans to set up a 3 mln tpa integrated steel unit at Chaibasa in Jharkhand. The project is estimated to cost Rs.5,500 crore.

The second mega power of the month was launched by Visa Power. The company plans to set up a 4x400 coal based project in Raigarh (Chhattisgarh) at a cost of Rs.5,500 crore. The MOU for the same was signed with state government on 7 January 2007.

After a gap of few months, the automobile sector saw announcement of a large size project, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., is planning to produce 3 lakh medium and heavy commercial vehicles at Chakan in Maharashtra, at an estimated cost of Rs.4,000 crore. The MoU for the project was signed on 31 March 2008.

Of the 12 new cement projects announced in April, Ramsarup Industries’ 2 mln tpa project, along with a 300 MW thermal based power unit at Siuri in West Bengal, and 2 mln tpa of Starlight Metapower in Rajasthan, were large ones.

In the Construction sector, around 76 new commercial complexes and shopping malls were announced, across the country. In addition, ProjectsToday collected information on 242 Real Estate projects, which are presently at different stages of development. Bigwig Ansal Properties & Infrastructure is planning to set up a township over 200 acres of land at Jalandhar in Punjab. The township will entail a shopping mall, residential apartments with various modern amenities.

During April 2008, 51 new hotel projects were announced of which, Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces announced a total investment of Rs.313 crore in projects at three locations - for a 330-room business hotel 'Taj Residency' at Yeshwantpur in Bangalore, a 200-room business hotel 'Taj Surya' near Race Course Road in Coimbatore. The thrid aims at capacity expansion of the 'Taj Land Ends' hotel in Mumbai, from 368 rooms to 490 rooms.

The month also saw four major MoUs being signed. On 23 April 2008, Tamil Nadu government signed a MoU with DLF to set up IT and ITES SEZ at Taramani in Chennai. On 24 April 2008, Mahindra & Mahindra signed a MoU with the Rajasthan government to set up a Mahindra Pride School in Jaipur. The Haryana government has signed a MoU with the National Highway Authority of India to construct a sixlane Delhi-Rohtak road project. Euro Group has signed a MoU with Madhya Pradesh government to set up a 2 mln tpa pelletisation plant for conversion of low grade iron ore into high grade.

During April 2008, ProjectsToday also gathered information on 18 SEZs and following are the major SEZs:

Of the total projects announced during April 2008, 462 projects entailing a total investment of Rs.27,464 crore were by the state and Central government agencies. Private entities accounted for the balance 545 projects worth Rs.62,811 crore.

The states that attracted maximum investment were Madhya Pradesh (Rs.14,724 crore), followed by Andhra Pradesh (Rs.12,066 crore). The third and the fourth slots were captured by Jharkhand and Chattisgarh, with investment of Rs.11,734 crore and Rs.10,886 crore, respectively.