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Addition of switching capacity in Telecom and handling of import cargo in Civil Aviation recorded phenomenal growth of over 30 per cent during April-December 2004, in comparison with the same period previous year. This is followed by significant growths of over 20 per cent in passenger handling at domestic terminals and cell phone connections, in the same two sectors. This information is contained in a Review Report of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, on the performance of Infrastructure Sector, for the period.
In Telecom, addition in switching capacity during the period was 4575000 lines, compared to 3472000 in the previous year. Cell phone connections rose to 11248000 from 9310000. In Civil Aviation, import cargo handling totalled 208814 metric tonnes compared to 160531 metric tonnes in the previous period. Passengers handled at domestic terminals went up to 176.19 lakhs from nearly 140 lakhs.
Cargo handling at major ports in the Shipping and Port Sector and export cargo handling in Civil Aviation also posted considerable growths of over 11 per cent during the period. In other Infrastructure Sectors like Roads, the upgradation of highways went up by 16 per cent, while passenger handling at international terminals in Civil Aviation, also recorded a near 16 per cent increase. The other sectors though registered positive growth during the period, but were below the 10 per cent mark. Almost all the sectors, except some sections in them, are poised to cross the target for 2004-05.
The Steel sector registered a lower growth, especially in the production of finished steel, which was over 9 per cent, less than the target. The shortfall is mainly attributed to lower performance by the Steel Authority of India Ltd., the Vizag Steel Plant and secondary producers. Fertilizers also recorded a lesser growth of 6.4 per cent during the period, mainly due to lower production of nitrogenous and phosphatic fertilizers in both the public and private sector plants. The low production is said to be due to equipment problems, shortage of raw materials and natural gas limitations. Production of phosphatic fertilizers was significantly lower by nearly 20 per cent of the target, while the nitrogenous fertilizer production went down by about one per cent.
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VKS/SR
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