Indian infrastructure output rises to 4.9 pc in 2005-06

New Delhi, Apr 27: India's infrastructure sector output registered a growth rate of 4.9 per cent in the financial year 2005-06 compared to 5.8 per cent in the previous year.

However, the index of six crore infrastructure industries of crude oil, refining, steel, cement, coal, electricity which stood at 235.4 (provisional) in March 2006, registered a jump of 8.8 per cent against 6.9 per cent in March 2005, official figures announced here today said.

While crude oil lagged with negative growth, cement and finished steel registered double digit growths, the figures showed.

Crude petroleum production registered a negative growth of 2.4 per cent (provisional) in March 2006 against 1.1 per cent in March 2005. Crude petroleum production also saw negative growth of 5.3 per cent during April-March 2005-06 compared to 1.8 per cent in the year-ago period.

Petroleum refinery production had a growth of 9.4 per cent (provisional) last month against negative growth of 2.2 per cent in March 2005 taking growth during 2005-06 to 2.1 per cent compared to 4.3 per cent increase in the previous period.

UNI