Infra Set to Get Rs. 10,000 Cr Push Through PPP, Says Singh .

The government has planned to develop infrastructure in the Union Territory in the sectors of information technology, tourism, local administration, electricity, port and health sectors at an outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore through public private partnership mode, said the Lieutenant Governor Ajay Kumar Singh.

Delivering his customary address in the Legislative Assembly on the opening day of the Budget Session, he said, important works like strengthening of old bridges and culverts, converting the overhead high tension and low tension electrical lines to underground cable, improving Puducherry Fishing Harbour, constructing fishing work shelters and markets are being taken up under coastal disaster risk reduction project funded by World Bank. 'Of the total 19 works, six have been tendered for a sum of Rs. 244.88 crore,' he said. Besides, the comprehensive underground sewerage project taken up at a cost of Rs. 282.17 crore will be commissioned by the year of 2015-2016.

The government had approached Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for a loan of Rs. 734.50 crore to reduce the transmission and distribution losses in the power sector. A detailed project report (DPR) in this regard had been sent to the Ministry of Power. The government's aim is to bring down the losses from the present level of 12.5 per cent to 9.21 per cent. An integrated coastal zone management plan for the UT has been approved at a total cost of Rs. 400 crore for development of and conservation of coastal areas for tourism.

Stating that socio economic status of the UT has considerably improved, Lieutenant Governor Singh projected a Gross state Domestic product growth of 24 per cent with GSDP expected to be Rs. 26,431 crore as compared to previous year's Rs. 21,500 crore.

The per capita income is also expected to record an impressive figure of Rs 1,75,00, which is 20 per cent more than previous year’s figure of Rs. 1,52,00.

Meanwhile, the revenue collection from commercial taxes is also targeted to reach the figure of Rs. 1,320 crore in 2015-2016 as compared to Rs. 1,256.28 crore in 2013-2014.


THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS