The first two months of the current fiscal 2010- 11 could not reproduce the stellar performances of March 2010 in project contracts business. However, when compared with the first two months performances of the fiscal 2009-10, it was much better. In April & May 2010, together 133 orders worth Rs 37,768 crore were awarded as against these 16 orders worth Rs 18,005 crore were ordered in the same period of the preceding year.

Among the major sectors, though Metallurgy, Electricity and Community Services sectors saw increase in number of contracts awarded in May 2010 as compared with April 2010 figures, Roadways sector was way ahead of other sectors both in terms of number of contracts awarded as well as job works involved therein. In all, 15 Roadways contract worth Rs 13,011.09 crore were finalised during May 2010.

IL&FS Transportation Networks bagged a Rs 2,519 crore contract for the four-laning of Chenani to Nashri Section from Km 89.00 to Km 130.00 (new alignment) including a nine km long tunnel (twolane) with parallel escape tunnel, on BOT basis in Jammu & Kashmir. NHAI awarded a contract worth Rs 1,723 crore to Era Infra Engineering and OJSCSIBMOST, the scope of which includes four-laning of Bareilly-Sitapur section of NH-24 from Km 262 to Km 413.200 in Uttar Pradesh under NHDP Phase III on DBFOT toll basis.

L&T Krishnagiri Walajahpet Tollway, an SPV floated by L&T, clinched a road project from the NHAI for six laning of Krishnagiri-Walajahpet highway of NH-46 in Tamil Nadu. The contract is worth Rs 1,450 crore. Besides, Andhra Pradesh Road Development Corporation handed over a Rs 2,200 crore contract to Gayatri Projects for design, construction, finance, operation and maintenance of four-laning of Hyderabad- Karimnagar-Ramagundam road SH-1 from Km 28.200 to Km 235.058 in Andhra Pradesh under PPP on BOT basis.

Of the 15 contracts finalised in the Electricity sector, not many were of large size. The only mega contract awarded in this sector in May 2010 was by the Nuclear Power Corporation. The company awarded a Rs 887.92 crore contract to HCC for the civil works of main plant of Rajasthan Atomic Power Project, units VII and VIII (2x700 MWe) at Rawatbhata, Kota, Rajasthan.

Some of the mega projects awarded in May 2010 were by foreign entities to Indian companies. In all, eight of the 79 contracts finalised in May were overseas contracts.

Punj Lloyd in partnership with Spain's Technicas Reunidas won a Rs 2,056 crore contract from Abu Dhabi Gas Development Company for the Shah Gas Development Project in Abu Dhabi.

Afcons Infrastructure was awarded a contract valued at Rs 900 crore by Jordan Phosphate Mines Company for building a four million tonne export terminal and a 280 mtrs jetty, besides the buildings and utilities.

An overseas contract worth Rs 850 crore was secured by L&T from Public Works Authority of Qatar for design supply, procurement and construction of phase II expansion of the Doha South Sewage Treatment Works.