Eleventh Plan works out sector-wise break up of investments

New Delhi, Dec 18 (UNI) The Eleventh Plan document works out sector-wise break up of investments required for infrastructure development during the Plan period 2007-12, and assigns the electricity sector the highest level of investment with the projected figure of 166.63 billion dollars -- a whopping 32.35 per cent of the total funds required.

Estimates worked out by the Commission show that the next higher level of investment would be required for building of roads and bridges with a projected figure of 15.25 per cent or 78.54 billion dollars.

The exercise shows that the total requirment of funds will be of the order of 515.05 billion dollars or Rs 2,060,193 crore.

The document, cleared by the full Planning Commission and the Cabinet, is slated for discussion and approval at a meeting of the National Development Council (NDC) here tomorrow.

The conversion rate used in the calculations is Rs 40 to a dollar. In terms of rupees, the requirement of the electricity sector is Rs 666,525 crore and roads and bridges Rs 314,152 crore.

Next in line is the Railways, which is awash with a cash surplus of over Rs 21000 crore, but will need 65.45 billion dollars (Rs 261,808 crore) or 12.71 per cent of the total investments during the Eleventh Plan.

The burgeoning telecommunication sector has to be pumped into an investment of 64.61 billion dollars, accounting for 12.54 per cent.

In terms of rupees, the equivalent figure is Rs 258,439 crore.

The required investments for the irrigation and water supply and sanitation sectors are 64.34 billion dollars (Rs 257,344 crore or 12.49 per cent) and 35.93 billion dollars (Rs 143,730 crore or 6.98 per cent), respectively.

According to the plan document, the projected investment for the port sector is 22 billion dollars (Rs 87,995 crore) while for the airport sector, the amount has been pegged at 7.74 billion dollars (Rs 30,968 crore).

Surprisingly, the document's projection for investment in the gas sector is merely 4.21 billion dollars (Rs 16,855 crore) or 4.21 per cent of the total funds.

Analysts say these projections would be of immense value to investors, both domestic and foreign, seeking to enter India's booming infrastrcture sector.

The document also clearly demarcates the role assigned to the public and private sectors for infrastructure sectors even though it clarifies that bulk of resources would continue to come from the public sector.

MORE UNI