Though it would be too early to mention about revival in project investment activities, the month of August 2012 saw sizeable increase in projex.The month also saw announcement of 12 mega size projects (Projex of Rs. 500 crore or more) spread across Power, Steel, Cement and Roadways sectors. Till 28 August 2012, ProjectsToday gathered information on 580 projects with an aggregate projex of Rs. 43,064 crore. Of this, 182 projects (Rs. 34,309 crore) were owned by the Private sector and the rest 398 projects (Rs. 8,755 crore) were owned by the Public sector.

Out of the total 580 projects, 423 projects entailing a total projex of Rs. 37,824 crore are new start-ups. Of the balance, 15 projects worth Rs. 682 crore were capacity expansion and 142 projects worth Rs. 4,559 crore were renovation and modernisation. Further of the total new projects, costs of 132 projects are yet to be finalised by their respective promoters. Of the total projects, 363 projects were in the planning stage, 107 in nascent and, 110 are in under implementation stage. Among the sectors, the Electricity sector topped the investment chart with Rs. 17,051 crore spread across 17 startups accounting to 40 per cent in the total investment announced during the period. The Electricity sector, was the Manufacturing sector with 69 projects worth Rs. 13,988 crore.

The Services and Utility sector managed to attract 483 projects entailing a total investment of Rs. 11,516 crore. The Mining sector secured an investment of Rs. 500 crore spread across nine projects. The Irrigation sector amassed two projects worth Rs. 9 crore. During the period, three big ticket projects announced in the Thermal power sector with an investment of Rs. 16,350 crore with four startups. Sintex Powers' plans to set up a combined cycle based power unit worth Rs. 8,350 core in Gujarat (Amreli). Megha Engineering & Infrastructures plans to set up a coal based power unit worth Rs. 5,250 crore in Tamil Nadu (Tuticorin). Mahavir Global Coal plans to set up a coal based power unit worth Rs. 2,500 crore in Chhattisgarh (Raigarh).

ABG Cement is setting up a coal based power unit worth Rs. 250 crore in Gujarat (Surat). The Manufacturing sector saw some notable startups during the period. One such project was NSL Fertilizer Ventures' plans of setting up a urea unit worth Rs. 5,000 crore in Andhra Pradesh. There were three mega projects announced in Gujarat. Hero MotoCorp plans to set up a motorcycles unit worth Rs. 1,100 crore with a capacity of 12 lakh numbers per year. However the exact location for this unit is yet to be finalised. China Steel Corporation India plans to set up a silicon electric steel unit worth Rs. 1,000 crore in Bharuch district. Govind Rubber plans to set up a tyres unit worth Rs. 750 crore in Bharuch. The Roadways sector amassed a total of 197 projects worth Rs. 4,679 crore majority of which were owned by the state government entities.

The NHAI plans to implement fourlaning of Bhavnagar-Veraval Road (NH-8E) worth Rs. 2782 crore in Gujarat through PPP mode on DBFOT (Toll) basis. The Cement sector attracted a total investment of Rs. 2,236 crore spread across six projects. Emami Cements plans to set up cement grinding units worth Rs. 418 crore each in Bihar (Bhagalpur) and Orissa (Cuttack) and a project worth Rs. 600 crore in Karnataka (Gulbarga). The KCP Group plans to set up a cement grinding unit worth Rs. 400 crore in Visakhapatnam. Apart from this; it also plans to expand its clinker capacity at Mukteshwarapuram unit in Andhra Pradesh. Among the states, Gujarat has emerged as the top investor of the month with 19 projects worth Rs. 15,566 crore accounting for 36 per cent of the total investment during the month. The state was followed by Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar on the investment chart. As far as the number of projects is concerned, Andhra Pradesh tops the chart with 99 projects, securing an investment of Rs. 8,313 crore.

(Note: This write-up is based on the data compiled during 1-28 Aug 2012)