The briskness observed in awarding project contracts in February 2009, continued in March 2009 also. In all, 55 contracts worth Rs 13,670.89 crore were awarded during the month. Though the number of contracts awarded in March was a little higher than such contracts awarded in the preceding month, because of the absence of large value contracts, the aggregate value of 55 contracts awarded was around 37 per cent lower when compared with the contracts figures of February 2009.

The month also saw drop in overseas contract. Of the total 55 contracts awarded only two were bagged by Indian corporations from overseas companies.

The first overseas contract was bagged by Kalpataru Power Transmission bagged from Algeria's Sonelgaz, for supply of towers, other line material and construction of the transmission lines of approx 500 km length for voltages ranging up to 400 kV. The second one was won by Praj Industries from Range Fuels in Georgia, USA, for supply of downstream processing equipment.

On the domestic front, the Power sector ruled the roost in March with 22 contracts worth Rs 7,278.17 crore being awarded. The largest contract of Rs 3,990 crore was bagged by Kalpataru Power Transmission from Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL). The scope of work included supply and construction of 765 kV and 400 kV transmission lines in Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Assam. The second largest contract, valued at Rs 550 crore, was bagged by Emco also from PGCIL, for supply of 765 kV transmission lines and galvanized steel towers.

The power equipment supplier, Bharat Heavy Electricals won a Rs 345 crore contract from Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) for manufacturing and supply of four steam generators for the 700 MW nuclear set of NPCIL's Kakrapara atomic power project in Gujarat.

In the Roadways sector Sadbhav Engineering was awarded a Rs 1,571 crore contract by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation for modernisation and computerisation of integrated border check posts at 22 locations in Maharashtra on BOT basis. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority granted a Rs 43.46 crore contract to PBA Infrastructure. The contract job includes concretisation of 30 meter internal road in G block of Bandra-Kurla Complex Phase II.

The Irrigation sector saw four contracts worth Rs 1,131.55 crore being awarded. Of these, Patel Engineering was awarded a contract by Narmada Valley Development Authority worth Rs 799 crore while IVRCL Infrastructures & Projects from Narmada Development Division for execution dam, canals etc of Lower GoI project in Madhya Pradesh. The other large contracts awarded in the month include Rs.1307.6 crore won by Siemens VAI Metals Technologies from Steel Authority of India for engineering and supply of three LD converters, converter gas recovery, electrics and automation at Bhilai Steel Plant, Chhattisgarh. Jacobs Engineering Group Inc's contract from Mangalore Refinery Petrochemicals valued at Rs 510 crore and a Rs 491.96 crore contract bagged by Subhash Projects & Marketing for Underground Sewerage Scheme in Thane, Maharashtra.