India's infrastructure sector have done well in the first half of the current fiscal, although highways remained a laggard, according to a mid-year analysis of the economy.
During the April-September period, power generation capacity addition was largely on the targeted lines. Against the target of 7,743 MW, actual addition was 7,501 MW, nearly 92% of the goal set.
Total earnings of the railways from goods were also up by 10.15% to Rs 32,439 crore, compared to Rs 29,448.55 crore in the first half of the last fiscal.
The civil aviation sector, though incurring losses over the past two quarters, has actually clocked 18% growth in passenger traffic at 59 million during April-September, 2011-12, over 50 million in the year-ago period.
A robust growth was also seen in the telecom sector, which has registered over 899.8 million connections at August-end. The number of connections were 846.33 million, as on March 31, 2011.
"The total FDI equity inflows in the telecom sector have been $1,874 million during April-August this fiscal," as per the Mid-Year Analysis tabled in Parliament.
The shipping sector also witnessed some improvement - both on ground as well as on the policy front. While contract for the 4th container terminal of Jawaharlal Nehru Port has been awarded, a decision has been taken by the government to set up one more port in each of the maritime states.
However, on the flip side, the widening and strengthening target work on the national highways remained a distant dream. Against the target of adding 1,005 km during April-September, work could be completed on 690 km only.
