Post-16 May 2009, when the model code of conduct imposed by the Election Commission of India during the General Elections came to an end, the state and Central government agencies announced a number of new projects, mostly in the infrastructure sector. During May 2009, around 600 new projects entailing a total investment of Rs 23,431 crore were announced across the country. Though compared to April 2009 figures it indicated 150 more projects, lack of large size projects saw the total investment declining by 38 per cent.

Renewed project tendering activities by various state government agencies saw the total number of new projects announced by the public sector jumping up from 191 projects in April 2009 to 323 projects in May 2009. Though, there was not much appreciable change in the number of new projects announced by the Private sector, lack of mega investment proposals saw the aggregate investment proposed by the 277 new private projects decline by 45 per cent in May 2009.

Corroborating the dominance of the public sector in fresh investment arena, the Service and Utilities sector witnessed 405 new projects as compared to 272 projects in April 2009. Roadways, Railways and Community Services (including water supply schemes, schools, colleges and auditoriums) attracted most of the fresh investment emanated in May 2009.

Among the infrastructure projects announced in the month, the most ambitious was by the Unitech Group. The group intends to set up a Business Complex at Vile Parle in Mumbai, a Shopping Mall at Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, an IT SEZ at Gurgaon in Haryana and a Residential Complex at Kolkata in West Bengal.

In the Construction sector, around 28 new Commercial Complexes and Shopping Malls were announced across India. In addition, ProjectsToday also collected information on 98 Real Estate projects. The notable Real Estate project of the month was announced by Tata Housing Development Company. It intends to set up a township namely 'Shubh Griha' at Boisar in Thane district of Maharashtra. The township will be implemented in two phases, Phase I includes 50 towers with 1,000 apartments and Phase II comprises shopping mall, school, etc.

Among the six new hospital projects announced during May 2009, the Rs 600 crore ESIC hospitalcum- medical college project of the Himachal Pradesh government was the largest. The college to be set up in the Mandi district, comprises hospital building, medical and nursing college, hostels, residential complex with various modern amenities. NBCC invited bids on 17 May 2009 to execute the project.

The mining sector saw announcement of 14 projects, of this, the largest project was by Essel Mining & Industries, a group company of Aditya Birla, planning to set up two iron ore beneficiation plants in Keonjhar district of Orissa at an investment of Rs 780 crore.

The Power sector saw 54 new projects entailing an investment of Rs 10,013 crore. Of these, the following five were of large size:

In the Manufacturing sector, Sugar, Cement and Iron & Steel sectors saw continued investment activities. Iron & Steel sector received 30 new proposals in May involving a total investment of Rs 4,410 crore. Of the 30 projects, two were of large size. The first one, a 2.5 million tpa an integrated steel unit in Jharkhand, was announced by Corporate Ispat Alloys. And the second proposal was by Mineral Enterprises for setting up a 0.6 million tpa integrated steel unit at Birur in Chickmagalur district of Karnataka, with an investment of Rs 500 crore.

The Cement sector continued to witness announcement of new projects. In all eight projects were announced. Following are some major cement projects announced during the month: