The month of October 2012 attracted around similar number of projects as seen in the preceding month. However, lesser number of new mega projex proposals saw the total fresh investment dropping by a sharp 34 per cent on a M-o-M basis. As against seven mega projects with outlays of over Rs 1,000 crore in September 2012, the month of October saw only three projects of that scale. The October 2012 saw announcement of a total of 580 projects worth Rs 26,616 crore as against 582 projects worth Rs 40,404 crore in September 2012. Out of the total 580 projects, 414 projects worth Rs 22,340 crore were green field projects, 156 projects (Rs 3,640 crore) were renovation and modernisation of existing capacities and the balance 10 worth Rs 635 crore were brown field projects.

Among the sectors, Services & Utilities (Infrastructure) sector topped the investment chart with Rs 11,375 crore spread across 477 projects accounting to around 43 per cent of the total investment announced during the month. Services & Utilities sector was followed by the Mining sector with seven projects worth Rs 6,492 crore. The Electricity Sector devoid of any mega projects in the conventional sector, had to settle for 35 projects with a total projex of Rs 3,617 crore. The Manufacturing sector attracted 57 projects with a total investment of Rs 3,260 crore. The Irrigation sector secured a total investment of Rs 1,873 crore spread across four projects.

Of the three mega projects announced during October 2012, the Rs 6,000 crore iron ore benefication project of Tungabhadra Beneficiation was the largest. The company plans to set up a six million tonne iron ore beneficiation unit and a two million tonne capacity cement unit at Kunikere in Koppal district of Karnataka. The other two mega projects were a Rs 1660 crore Rapti main canal project of the Irrigation Department, Uttar Pradesh and a Rs 1,293 crore Sambalpur-Rourkela project of the PWD, Orissa Government. This was also the largest roadways project announced in October 2012. A total of six projects worth Rs 4,853 crore were announced in the Roadways sector alone. Apart from the Orissa PWD project, the Bus Rapid Transit System Project proposed by Hubli-Dharwad BRTS Company was noteworthy.

While the Conventional Electricity sector failed to attract mega projects, the Non-conventional energy sector was three new mega size proposals. They were-

• Enrich Energy's plans to set up solar based power unit worth Rs 800 crore in Karanataka
• Mytrah Energy setting up wind based power units, one worth Rs 650 crore in Karnataka and the other Rs 600-crore worth unit in Tamil Nadu

Among the states, Karnataka cornered around 36 per cent of the fresh projex emanated in October. In all, the state attracted 56 projects worth Rs 9,795 crore. It also had the honour of having the largest project of the month. The state was followed by Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orissa and Gujarat. Together the top five states managed to lure around 75 per cent of the fresh projex the country saw in October. Unlike September 2012, where private new projects accounted for a lion's share of fresh investment proposals, in October 2012, the honour belonged to the state owned units. Of the total 580 new projects, 365 start ups were announced by the state government agencies. In terms of projex, however, the private sector retained its dominance by committing Rs 12,358 crore across 177 projects.