20 cos bid for longest expressway in India

December 6, 2007

The planned expressway will dwarf the 95km-long, six-laned, access controlled expressway connecting India’s financial capital Mumbai with Pune

Mumbai: Twenty firms have submitted initial bids for building India’s longest and biggest expressway project yet—a Rs40,000 crore, eight-laned, access controlled expressway linking Ballia in eastern Uttar Pradesh (UP) with Greater Noida—located on the border of the Capital, New Delhi.

The 1047 km-long road project dubbed Ganga Expressway will, when operational, cut travel time between the backward eastern part of Uttar Pradesh and the more prosperous western part of the state, by 16 hours from the current 24 hours.

For a traveller, it would take just about eight hours to zip from the holy city of Varanasi to New Delhi when the project is completed.

The planned expressway will dwarf the 95km-long, six-laned, access controlled expressway connecting India’s financial capital Mumbai with Pune and the under construction and controversy-ridden 111km-long expressway linking Bangalore with the garden city of Mysore.

The firms that have applied for pre-qualification include Larsen & Toubro Ltd, Reliance Energy Ltd, DLF Ltd, IL&FS Ltd, Gammon Infrastructure Projects Ltd with Australia’s biggest investment bank Macquarie, GMR Group, the Omaxe Ltd-GVK Group-Nagarjuna Construction Co. Ltd consortium, the Bajaj Hindusthan Ltd-Apollo Group-D S Constructions Ltd consortium, Jaiprakash Associates Ltd, Canadian firm SNC Lavalin with Progressive Constructions Ltd, Unitech Ltd, Punj Lloyd Ltd, Oman’s Gulfar Engineering & Contracting Llc., Zoom Developers Pvt. Ltd, Australia’s Leighton Group with Oriental Construction Co. Ltd, and PLUS Expressways Berhad, a subsidiary of Malaysia’s UEM Group, according to an official with the UP government overseeing the bidding process who did not wish to be named.

UP has taken inspiration for building the Ganga Expressway from legendary Afghan leader Sher Shah Suri, who built the Grand Trunk Road connecting Delhi with Kabul in the 16th century after temporarily displacing Humayun from the Mughal throne.

Suri’s road ran alongside the right bank of the Ganga; the new expressway will be built on the left bank of the river.

The eight-laned expressway will be constructed on an embankment to be built by the state’s irrigation department for controlling floods on the left bank of the Ganga.

The proposed expressway will start at Ballia-Gazipur and pass through Varanasi, Mirzapur, Sant Ravidas Nagar, Allahabad, Pratapgarh, Rae Bareli, Unnao, Hardoi, Farrukhabad, Fatehgarh, Shahjahanpur, Badaun, Bulandshahr, Gautam Buddhanagar and terminate at Greater Noida.

The expressway project will make available around 5,000 acres of land for real estate development including residential and industrial units. This will make the project economically viable for the developers.

The work on the expressway project will begin next year.

Source: livemint.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Default, Investment and Finance

Gammon inks pact with Mumbai Port for Rs 1,200-cr terminal project

December 4, 2007

CHENNAI: Gammon India Ltd has informed the BSE that Indira Container Terminal Pvt Ltd, the special purpose vehicle incorporated by the consortium of Gammon and Dragados S.P.L., on December 3 signed the licence agreement with the Mumbai Port Trust for dev eloping the Mumbai Offshore Container Terminal Project.

The project’s estimated cost is Rs 800 crore in the initial phase of three years, and Rs 400 crore subsequently, thus aggregating Rs 1,200 crore.

It is on BOT basis for 30 years, including three years of construction and equipping period, from the date of signing the licence agreement. – Our Bureau

Source: thehindubusinessline.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Uncategorized

Work on ECR project resumes

December 2, 2007

It was suspended due to heavy rain

Project expected to be completed by March 2009 Estimated cost: Rs.2,160 crore

PUDUKOTTAI: Work on the World Bank-funded East Coast Road (ECR) project, which remained suspended for about a month following sharp showers in the coastal parts of the district, resumed recently.

Being a coastal belt with estuaries, rivulets and the Vellar, the major river of the district, the work involves construction of culverts and minor bridges at several places in the 36-km-long stretch. Work on construction of a minor bridge or culvert has been undertaken every couple of km between Kattumavadi and Kottaipattinam, about 70 km from here.

Authorities of the Tamil Nadu Road Sector Project (TNSRP), which is executing the Rs.2,160-crore project of laying the 742-km road from Arcot to Tuticorin, suspended the work as a vast stretch of newly laid and levelled earth on the ECR stretch turned slushy at places such as Kottaipattinam, Kattumavadi and Manamelkudi. The overflowing water from the culverts brought all work to a grinding halt.

The project, which started in February 2004, is expected to be completed by March 2009. Of the total outlay of Rs.2,160 crore, a sum of Rs.1,148 crore will be utilised to upgrade the ECR, TNSRP sources told The Hindu. The upgrading work includes strengthening of the earth and ensuring technical stability of the area to suit the huge volume of heavy vehicles. With the receding of rain water, work resumed last week, the sources said.

The project is being executed through meticulous planning, covering a stretch of 387 km between Arcot and Tiruvarur and 355 km between Nagapattinam and Tuticorin.

Source: hindu.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Investment and Finance

Kaushalya Infrastructure IPO oversubscribed

November 23, 2007

The IPO has so far received 6,11,97,500 bids, giving it a subscription of 7.20 times over the issue size of 85,00,000 equity shares

IPO The Public Issue of Kaushalya Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (KIDCO) has been oversubscribed as per the information available on the websites of the stock exchanges. The IPO has so far received 6,11,97,500 bids, giving it a subscription of 7.20 times over the issue size of 85,00,000 equity shares. KIDCO is a diversified infrastructure development company from eastern India, and is offering the shares at a price band of Rs. 50 to Rs 60 per share. The net issue to the public would constitute 40.93 per cent of the fully diluted post issue paid-up capital of the Company. The issue closes on 23rd November.

As a part of its expansion plans, KIDCO will mainly utilize funds for acquisition of land, land development rights & real estate development, investment in BOT/BOOT projects and joint ventures and for the purchase of capital equipments comprising construction & infrastructure equipments for execution of projects .

The infrastructure development operations of the Company are organized in three major business divisions viz. Kaushalya Nirmàn (Specializes in construction of roads, highways, bridges and industrial infrastructure), Kaushalya Gràm (Specializes in Electrification and Irrigation projects focused on development of rural India) and Kaushalya Parivàr (Specializes in Construction of Commercial & Residential Complexes). The key clients of the Company include various Government Undertakings, State Public Works Departments, as well as State and Central Public Sector Undertakings.

Says Prashant Mehra, managing director of KIDCO, “We are on the expansion mode and would be focusing more upon diversified sectors so as to leverage and expand the operations. After our successful journey in the Eastern part of the country, we are spreading our operations to other parts like the Central India.”

KIDCO aims to operate into diversified sectors such as townships, offices, houses and other buildings, urban infrastructure, highways, roads, power systems, irrigation, dams and agriculture systems, etc. which will mitigate business risk in case of slowdown in any one particular field in the future.

The proposed issue will be lead managed by SREI Capital Markets Limited and the Registrar to the issue will be Intime Spectrum Registry Limited.

Source: indiainfoline.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Investment and Finance

Western, northern region cos dominate infrastructure space

November 23, 2007

NTPC, Larsen & Toubro and Bharti Airtel top the list (in terms of income) of Dun & Bradstreet India’s list of India’s Leading Infrastructure Companies 2007. This listing, part of D&B’s study on infrastructure in India, profiles 187 companies – 121 from the construction sector, 52 from power and 14 from telecom services. The study provides an industry overview of infrastructure in India and key characteristics of the sampled companies .

D&B’s analysis reveals that companies based in the western (37 per cent) and northern regions (30 per cent) dominate the infrastructure industry. While the initial public offer route is a key means of financing for the construction companies, the infrastructure industry as a whole is funded largely through term loans and self-financing.

Construction goes public The study has disclosed that the construction sector is dominated by public companies (listed and unlisted); these accounted for 92 per cent of the 121 construction companies that qualified under D&B’s selection criteria. Thirty per cent of listed construction companies had absorbed close to Rs 20,000 crore through IPOs in 2006-07. The sample companies plan to raise Rs 2,000 crore more in the near future. Most of the companies that raised money through the IPO were focussed on roads, power, irrigation and residential township projects.

The report also brings out the increasing synergy between private players and the Government. Around 50 per cent of the sample companies have collaborations such as public private partnership, special purpose vehicles, other domestic partnership and BOT and BOOT contracts.

Power’s conventional The study found that India continues to rely on conventional sources such as coal, gas and lignite for power generation. Of the 178 power plants operated by the sample companies, 45 per cent were thermal power plants, 38 per cent hydro based and about 10 per cent be run by Nuclear Power Corporation. Only the rest accounted for unconventional energy sources such as wind farms and combined cycle power plants.

The report stated that Central government owned companies have taken the lead in terms of planned capacity additions, accounting for 52 per cent of the total plan. Private sector, including the two ultra mega power projects accounted for 32 per cent of the addition plans, while state-owned companies trailed behind with plans to add only 16 per cent to their capacity.

Source: thehindubusinessline.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Uncategorized

Maytas-NCC consortium wins airport projects from Karnataka

November 22, 2007

Two separate SPVs are to be set up for the airport projects. Maytas Infra, NCC and VIE will hold 37%, 37% and 26% stake in the two SPVs, respectively

Maytas Infra Ltd. announced on Tuesday that a consortium involving itself, NCC Infrastructure Holding Ltd. and VIE India Project Development and Holding LLC has bagged an order to develop and operate proposed airports at Gulbarga and Shimoga on BOT (build-operate-transfer) basis.

The contract has been awarded by the Infrastructure Development Department of the Karnataka Government.

Two separate Special Purpose Companies (SPVs) are to be set up for the airport projects. Maytas Infra, NCC and VIE will hold 37%, 37% and 26% stake in the two SPVs, respectively.

The construction period is 24 months from the date of signing the agreements. The concession period is 30 years and the agreement can be extended for a further period of 30 years.

Source: indiainfoline.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Investment and Finance

Cial has non-metro, foreign airports on radar

November 21, 2007

It plans to participate in the modernization of the 35 airports in the country, apart from the overseas projects

New Delhi: Cochin International Airport Ltd (Cial), the company that built the new international airport at Kochi, India’s first to be built by a private sector firm, is looking to build airports in India and in other countries in an effort to tap growing demand for airline infrastructure in many parts of the world.

Cial plans to participate in the modernization programme of 35 non-metro airports in the country and also wants to build airports in Sri Lanka, Ghana, Angola and Papua New Guinea, according to S. Bharat, managing director, Cial.

Cial was promoted by the Kerala government, financial institutions, airport service providers, non-resident Keralites and a group of entrepreneurs.

The single largest shareholder in the company is the state government with 35% of the paid-up capital.

Bharat added that Cial is in talks with an international finance company and a technical partner to promote a new company that will handle these projects.

Cial’s overseas plans come at a time when international airport operators such as Singapore’s Changi Airport International (CAI), Airport Company South Africa Ltd, Fraport AG and other leading players from Mexico, Turkey, Paris and Germany are looking to partner with Indian companies to bid for airport projects in the country. Singapore’s CAI had floated a joint venture company with Tata Realty & Infrastructure Ltd, a subsidiary of the Tata group for the airport modernization projects in India.

If it wins any of the projects to build airports outside the country, Cial will be following in the footsteps of Bangalore-based GMR Infrastructure Ltd, the lead partner in the consortium that runs Delhi International Airport, which will be developing Sabiha Gokeen International Airport (SGIA) at Istanbul, Turkey. GMR’S partners in this project are Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhard and Limak Insaat Sanavi San Ve Tic A S Turkey.

Bharat confirmed Cial’s overseas aspirations.

“The government of Sri Lanka has invited us to study the possibilities of building an airport there. We have got offers from Ghana, Angola and Papua New Guinea. Cial’s team will shortly visit those countries,” he said.

Cial plans to take up overseas airport projects on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) or build-own-operate (BOO) basis. Under the BOT model, the developer constructs and manages a project for a specified time before handing it over to the government; in the BOO model, the developer continues to operate the project with a local partner.

“The funding of these airport projects would be done by a special purpose company formed under Cial,” Bharat said.

He declined to name the international partners citing confidentiality agreements.

“We are also looking at bidding for the ongoing airport projects within India as we can make airports at lower cost,” Bharat added. The Cochin airport was built at a cost of Rs315 crore including the cost of land.

A government committee on infrastructure, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has estimated that India will need to spend more than Rs40,000 crore in developing airports between 2006-07 and 2013-14. Of this, an estimated Rs31,100 crore is expected to come from public-private partnerships.

The ministry of civil aviation has decided to modernize and upgrade 35 non-metro airports across India.

Besides, the government is also planning to build greenfield airports at Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra), Kannur (Kerala), Hassan and Gulbarga (Karnataka), Ludhiana (Punjab), Greater Noida (NCR), Paykong (Sikkim), Cheithu (Nagaland) and Chakan (near Pune, Maharashtra).

“At a time when current airport modernization programmes envisage spending at least Rs5,000 crore for a single project, Cial had built a world class product on a very modest budget. Cial can cash in on its expertise in the upcoming non-metro airport projects,” said a Mumbai-based aviation analyst, who does not want to be identified because he is not authorized to speak to the media.

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Investment and Finance, Media

Marginal player

November 19, 2007

Kaushalya Infrastructure has plenty to prove since it is yet to gain a critical mass.

Kaushalya Infrastructure Development (Kidco), a construction and engineering company focussed on eastern India plans to raise Rs 42-51 crore from the public by offering 85 million shares, a 43.4 per cent share of its fully-diluted equity capital.

The price band for the issue is fixed between Rs 50-60 a share. The company aims to garner a market capitalisation of about Rs 98-118 crore upon listing.

From the issue proceeds, Kidco will acquire construction and infrastructure equipment and make investments in its build-operate-transfer (BOT) and build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) projects. It also plans to acquire land for real estate development.

Kidco operates in three verticals, which include construction and engineering, rural electrification and irrigation infrastructure, and residential and commercial real estate.

The company has carried out projects in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Sikkim. Central and state governments, state public works departments and a few private entities have been its main clients.

At present, the company has 16 ongoing projects aggregating to an order book of Rs 144.8 crore, of which work worth Rs 76 crore is yet to be completed. These projects will be executed over a time-frame of 12-18 months.

The top three projects are of the size of Rs 25-30 crore, which appears small. Kidco owns 28.4 acres of land at Zaheerabad, Andhra Pradesh, and 4 acres in Rajarhat, a Kolkata suburb. It is in the process of acquiring another 8 acres in Rajarhat, which will be concluded with a part of the issue proceeds.

The company registered a top line of Rs 54 crore in FY07, with operating margins of about 8 per cent.

Going forward, the poor margins are unlikely to improve significantly, unless the ticket size and the nature of projects changes drastically, along with the company’s clientele. Investors may want to wait for the company to gain some more ground, before betting on it.

Source: business-standard.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Investment and Finance

Reliance Energy Ltd(REL) to hive off infrastructure projects

November 12, 2007

NEW DELHI: In a bid to separate the power and infrastructure projects, Reliance Energy Ltd. (REL) has now decided to transfer all its infrastructure projects to a separate wholly-owned subsidiary.

The REL board had already given its approval to the proposal.

The move comes hot on the heels of REL deciding to hive off its power generation business as a separate company — Reliance Power Limited (RPL).

RPL has filed a draft red herring prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for an initial public cffering (IPO) of around Rs. 12,000 crore.

The decision to hive off infrastructure portfolio to a new subsidiary comes in view of the increasing portfolio of the company on this account in recent months.

REL is developing highways for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the build-own-transfer (BOT) scheme.

It is involved in five National Highway projects in Tamil Nadu, covering a length of 400 km at a cost of Rs. 3,100 crore. In addition, it is pursuing road projects, including the proposed Rs. 5,000 crore Western Freeway sea-link project connecting Worli and Nariman Point in Mumbai and the Rs. 6,000-crore Jaipur Ring Road project.

On the real estate side, the REL-led consortium had emerged as a winner for developing a business city in Hyderabad with an estimated investment of Rs. 6,500 crore. The city will be built in 77 acres, which will include a 100-storey trade tower. It has also bagged the metro rail project in Mumbai that involved the development and operation of a fully-elevated metro rail.

The total cost of the project is around Rs. 2,500 crore. It has also bid for line 2 of the Mumbai metro elevated track between Mankhurd and Charkop with an estimated investment of Rs. 6,500 crore. The company is also bidding for the Rs. 6,000 crore Mumbai trans-harbour link.

Source : The Hindu

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Investment and Finance

MSK Projects expects Rs 455 mn from Jalandhar project

October 24, 2007

Baroda-based MSK Projects (Q, N,C,F)* (India), a significant player in BOT projects, completed the construction of the Jalandhar bus terminus that handles the interstate and intrastate, private and government passenger bus vehicles of Jalandhar.

The project is expected to add Rs 454.86 million to the gross revenue of the company over a period of 7 years. The BOT (build, operate, and transfer) project will earn revenue for the company in the form of terminus fees, lease rentals of shops, passenger amenities, advertisements and parking fees. The traffic at this terminus is on an average 3,000 buses per day increasing at an average rate of 3% per annum thus making the project an excellent one.

“We are glad to provide quality infrastructure to the once cramped bus terminal which will help organize the traffic and provide recreational facility to the travellers. Transport being a key source of increased trade and commerce, the revamp of the Jalandhar terminus will not only improve the state productivity but also check the leakage of revenue“ said Amit Khurana, executive director, MSK Projects (India).

The company is in the process of completing a water supply project for Dewas Industries in M.P. This is the first water supply project executed purely on a public – private partnership basis. MSK Projects is also on the verge of completing the construction of Ludhiana Bus Terminus.

MSK Projects (India) is a civil construction company executing infrastructure contracts such as building roads. The company entered the field of industrial construction and undertook works such as mass housing and township, multi-storied buildings, industrial projects for coal mines, fertilizer plants, petrochemicals, water retaining structures, and have also successfully executed them. It is well established today in the field on infrastructure development, particularly roads on build- operate & transfer (BOT) basis.

Shares of the company declined Rs 1.10, or 1.07%, to trade at Rs 101.5. The total volume of shares traded was 13,921 at the BSE. (2.16 p.m, Wednesday)

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Investment and Finance

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