The following are the proposals related to the development of infrastructure and industry, contained in the Union Budget 2012-13 presented today.
Infrastructure
Government has approved guidelines for establishing joint venture companies by defence PSUs in PPP mode.
First Infrastructure Debt Fund with an initial size of `8,000 crore launched earlier this month.
Tax free bonds of `60,000 crore to be allowed for financing infrastructure projects in 2012-13.
A harmonised master list of infrastructure sector approved by the Government.
IIFCL has put in place a structure for credit enhancement and take-out finance for easing access of credit to infrastructure projects.
National Manufacturing Policy announced with the objective of raising, within a decade, the share of manufacturing in GDP to 25 per cent and creating of 10 crore jobs.
Power and Coal
Coal India Limited advised to sign fuel supply agreements with power plants, having long-term PPAs with DISCOMs and getting commissioned on or before March 31, 2015.
External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) to be allowed to part finance Rupee debt of existing power projects.
Transport: Roads and Civil Aviation
Target of covering a length of 8,800 kilometre under NHDP next year.
Allocation of the Road Transport and Highways Ministry enhanced by 14 per cent to `25,360 crore.
ECB proposed to be allowed for capital expenditure on the maintenance and operations of toll systems for roads and highways, if they are part of original project.
Direct import of Aviation Turbine Fuel permitted for Indian Carriers as actual users.
ECB to be permitted for working capital requirement of airline industry for a period of one year, subject to a total ceiling of US $ 1 billion.
Proposal to allow foreign airlines to participate upto 49 per cent in the equity of an air transport undertaking under active consideration of the government.
Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor
In September 2011 central assistance of `18,500 crore spread over 5 years approved. US $ 4.5 billion as Japanese participation in the project.
Housing Sector
Various proposals to address the shortage of housing for low income groups in major cities and towns including allowing ECB for low cost housing projects and setting up of a credit guarantee trust fund etc.
Fertilisers
Government has taken steps to finalise pricing and investment policies for urea to reduce India’s import dependence in urea.
Textiles
Government has announced a financial package of `3,884 crore for waiver of loans of handloom weavers and their cooperative societies.
Two more mega handloom clusters, one to cover Prakasam and Guntur districts in Andhra Pradesh and another for Godda and neighbouring districts in Jharkhand to be set up.
Three Weaver’s Service Centres one each in Mizoram, Nagaland and Jharkhand to be set up for providing technical support to poor handloom weavers.
`500 crore pilot scheme announced for promotion and application of Geo-textiles in the North Eastern Region.
A powerloom mega cluster to be set up in Ichalkaranji in Maharashtra with a budget allocation of `70 crore.
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
`5,000 crore India Opportunities Venture Fund to be set up with SIDBI.
To enable greater access to finance by Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), two SME exchanges launched in Mumbai recently.
Policy requiring Ministries and CPSEs to make a minimum of 20 per cent of their annual purchases from MSEs approved. Of this, 4 per cent earmarked for procurement from MSEs owned by SC/ST entrepreneurs.
