A big boost to the construction sector
Tamil Nadu is expected to get Rs. 8,583 crores for its road sector projects, according to Mr. Rajeev Ranjan, Principal Secretary – 
Highways and Minor Ports, Government of Tamil Nadu.
“This biggest externally-aided project in the State so far would cover 1,678 km of roads in identified areas, and this we expect to commence from next year”, he said in his special address to the 11th edition of ‘Suminfra 2013, Summit on Sustainable PPPs in Infrastructure’ organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Chennai recently.
Disclosing that the first meeting of the Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Board has earmarked Rs. 65 crores to prepare detailed project reports (DPRs), he also highlighted the various developments taking place in the shipping and port sectors in the State with private participation.
Mr. S. Krishnan, Principal Secretary – Planning and Development, Government of Tamil Nadu, said the State, with a consistent growth story and well-defined institutional and regulatory mechanism for public-private partnership projects, is inviting investors to its infrastructure development projects with a proposed investment of Rs. 15 lakh crores under its Vision 2023. Tamil Nadu which has been a strong, silent and consistent performer and the second largest economy in the country has already put in place strong institutional and regulatory mechanism for public-private partnership (PPP) projects, with due focus on the structuring of projects, including risk assessment. The State Infrastructure Development Act has provisions for monitoring of projects and sorting out of issues during implementation. The process of public consultation has also been institutionalized.
Mr. M.S. Shanmugam, Joint Secretary – Industries, said the large number of medium and small industries and the strong connectivity have given Tamil Nadu an edge over other States in attracting investments.
According to Mr. M. Velmurugan, Executive Vice-Chairman, Guidance Bureau, Tamil Nadu offered abundant opportunities for investment in infrastructure projects in sectors like energy, minor ports and industrial parks, and also in technical education and skill development.
Mr. Narayan Sethuramon, Chairman, CII – Tamil Nadu, and Managing Director and CEO, WS Industries (I) Ltd., observed that the public-private participation is well established in several sectors like power, ports and airports. However, some of the immediate and critical requirements for successful public private partnership projects are an effective regulatory framework, sovereign clearances and enhancing liquidity for developers.
Mr. Paritosh Gupta, Chairman, Suminfra 2013, and Chief Executive Officer, ILFS Infrastructure Development Corporation, said the number of infrastructure projects and types of investments India has been targeting are not unrealistic or beyond the reach of the country’s capabilities. With India’s liberal investment policies, global investors have been keen on investing in its debt markets. “There is real interest in India, and India’s growth story is sustainable and realistic”.
Mr. Gupta also said that for infrastructure growth the present focus is on corridor-based development. The Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor has become a model for several others. Many new corridors are being planned and implemented in several States across the country, including Tamil Nadu. “Industrial corridor-based development is a way of integrated growth creating new cities and manufacturing hubs’’, he added.
Small buses for Chennai
As a major initiative to tackle city road conjustion the Tamil Nadu Government has recently introduced small buses in Chennai. A total of 50 vehicles have already hit the roads in 20 different routes. This welcome initiative was flagged off recently by the Chief Minister, Ms. J. Jayalalithaa, amidst good appreciation by the people of different areas which remained neglected hitherto.