The Assam government intends to take up the renovation of BTPS-Agia-Sarusajai 20 kV D/C transmission line. The project comprises reconsuvtoring 90 circuit km of Circuit I of line and also 162 circuit km of Circuit II of the line. ASEB had requested Central government assistance for this scheme. It is now awaiting the Planning Commission's approval.

NTPC is exploring the possibility of setting up a gas based combined cycle power plant in Bangladesh through its JV with Bangladesh Power Development Board an d Petro Bangla. A proposal along with a copy of the draft MoU has been handed over to the Government of Bangaldesh. Meanwhile, BPDB had invited Request for proposal for the development of a 450-mw gas-based power plant to be set up as a JV company. NTPC plans to submit its bid.

NHPC is executing small and mini hydroelectric power projects in Arunachal Pradesh. The AP government is in the process of transferring the Halaipani 4x3 mw 12-mw HEP to the Corporation for execution on a deposit basis. Prequalification of contractors for civil works has already been completed while that for E&M contractors is being finalised. NHPC is already executing the 2x3 mw 6-mw Kambang Small HEP and the 2x2 mw 4-mw Sippi Small HEP in the state on a deposit basis.

The promotors of four gas-based power projects Konaseema Oakwell, Gautami, Vamagiri and GVK stage-II are in a fix regarding financial closure. The AP Electricity Regulatory Commission had cleared the four long pending projects on condition that they should commence production within 24 months from the date of amended agreement with APTransco, rather than from the date of financial closure. According to sources, the IPPs cannot start work without achieving financial closure, which is a rather difficult process, even though the IPPs signed amended PPAs with APTransco as per APERC's guidelines. The financial institutions, IDBI, ICICI and IFCI, have now backed out of their earlier offer to fund these projects.

NTPC has called for bids on international competitive bidding for its thermal power station at Sipat in Chhattisgarh. The work involves design, engineering, manufacturing, erection, supervision, pre-commissioning, commissioning, completion of facilities, conducting guarantee tests and handling over of three steam generating units each having rated output of 2232 TPH of steam at stipulated super critical parameters, with accessories and auxiliaries, and three steam turbine generator sets complete with all accessories and auxiliary equipment. Applications may be collected for Rs 15,000/$500 up to June 5. The bids have to be submitted by June 25, 2003, along with a bid security of Rs. 30.3 crore and Rs. 19.6 crore.

• At least two hydel power projects in Arunachal Pradesh are likely to be held up as their progress depends on the arrival of vital data from neighbouring China. The development of the 1700-mw Lower Siang project, and the 11000-mw Upper Siang project in the state is awaiting hydrological and meteorological data from China as a major portion of the catchment area for the projects falls in Tibet. Only then will the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, the implementing agency, move ahead with the preparation of feasibility reports.

• Meanwhile, the CEA has accorded permission for the preparation of DPR and infrastructure works for the 1000-mw Middle Siang Station. Stage II estimates of Rs. 50 crore covering expenditure on preparation of DPR, EIA/EMP studiers have been submitted. NHPC projects in Maharashtra and Karnataka are also facing problems.

• The corporation has found the Bav Stage II (50 mw) hydel scheme in Maharashtra commercially unviable. It is now reviewing the technical features of the project. Side by side it has taken up survey and investigation works for prepartion of the feasibility report for the 18-mw Bav Stage I. Its other proposed station in the state is the 6-mw Devade project for which stage-I survey and investigation work is underway.

• In Karnataka, the 2x135 mw (270 mw) Shivasamudram project in Mysore district has made no progress as Stage-II estimates have been held up due to inter-state disputes. NHPC has submitted the proposal for site clearance and it has held talks with the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests for land requirement.

• In addition, the three Upper Krishna Cascade projects totalling 810 mw have all been found commercially unviable with existing water resources. The Karnataka government has been requested to release additional water from the Narayanpur Dam to make it commercially viable. NHPC is expected to commission the 3x130 mw Dulhasti HEP in J&K and the 3x100 mw Chamera HEP in Himachal Pradesh within the next 12 months.

• In a major overseas borrowing, the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation has sought offers from international banks like ABN Amro, Deutsche, Standard Chartered and Credit Lyons to raise $350 million. "We have asked a consortium of banks for offering $250 million for investment in the 520 MW Omkareshwar project in Madhya Pradesh. Another borrowing of $100 million is being pursued separately for repaying high cost loans," NHPC CMD Yogendra Prasad said.

• For $250 million loan, NHPC will be sending the proposal soon to the Ministry of Power who will be forwarding the same to the Ministry of Finance for government guarantee, Prasad said, adding that for $100 million "we do not need government guarantee and just board's approval will be sufficient." Prasad said that from the $250 million, the Corporation would withdraw the money only next year as the it has already got Rs 3 bn as government equity for the Omkareshwar project and further investment would be required next year. This loan of $250 million would be for a period of 16 years and the net interest rate including forward premium would be less than three per cent, the officials said.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/uncomp/articleshow?msid=46557017

• The unbundling of the Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board (UPSEB) has led to a significant improvement in power generation. The UP Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam was set up on January 14, 2000, and had been performing consistently. The plant load factor of the corporation rose to 61.18 percent in 2002-03 from 59.76 percent in 2001-02. In December 1999, just prior to its unbundling, the plant load factor was 49.68 percent. It went up to 57.19 percent at the end of 2000-01.

• The total capacity is divided among the five thermal plants of Anpara, Obra, Panki, Harduagunj and Parichha. A capacity of 360 MW has been lying idle for several years because of a paucity of funds. The power entity has also taken the initiative in building new capacity. Work on installing fresh power capacity in the state will start after a gap of 13 years. The corporation has signed an agreement with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) for the installation of two turbines of 210 MW each at the Parichha power station in Jhansi. The Rs 14 bn project is likely to be completed by 2005.

• According to Kapoor, regulator monitoring has led to the improvement in power generation. The company earned operating profit in the previous three financial years. In 2002-03, its revenue stood at Rs 28.20 bn against an expenditure of Rs 21.69 bn. The corresponding figures for 2001-02 were Rs 26.57 bn and Rs 21.02 bn, respectively. All the power produced by the utility is sold to Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL). But the loss-making distribution company could pay only for 80 percent of the power purchased. A present, UPPCL owed Rs 12 bn to the power generator.

• The generator is in talks with the JBIC for the establishment of the 2x500 MW Anpara C project at a cost of Rs 35 bn. It also plans to refurbish the 5x50 MW Obra thermal plant, three units of which are lying idle. The Russian firm, Technoprome, has bagged the contract for the project. The company is also planning to renovate and modernise a gas turbine at Harduagunj and the existing plants at Parichha.

Business Standard dated May 16, 2003

• Shipping Corporation of India would be shortly finalising fresh long-term contracts with two oil PSUs - BPCL and HPCL - for transportation of imported crude, a senior company official said. The contract would be for the period of one year and the freight rate would be based on AFRA - average freight rates assessment, worked out by the London Tanker brokers' panel. AFRA is calculated on the basis of market rates on five types of vessels and is reviewed frequently.

• SCI's previous contracts with HPCL and BPCL ended on March 31, 2003, the official said. "We are at an advanced stage of negotiations and the COAs (contracts of afreightment) with the two refineries will be finalised shortly," a SCI official said. The new COAs assume significance in the context of privatisation of SCI. The COAs provide an assured crude cargo of 16-18 million tonnes to SCI. These refineries mainly import crude from the Gulf countries and from Malaysia.

• With the de-regulation of the petroleum sector, SCI has to compete with other shipping lines for crude cargo. Earlier, SCI was the nodal agency for transportation of imported crude for public sector oil refineries. SCI is also trying to work out a similar arrangement with Mangalore Refineries and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) that has now become a PSU following ONGC's acquisition of the Birlas' stake in MRPL. Earlier, it was Great Eastern Shipping Company had the contract with MRPL. With these COAs, SCI will have nearly 60 per cent of its tonnage tied up for the next one year, the official said.

http://www.blonnet.com/stories/2003051702600100.htm

• Essar Oil Ltd has raised $60 million through the sale of 11 oilrigs to the Abu Dhabi-based Bi Jabr Group. The Bin Jabr group's bid was selected based on KPMG's recommendation. The company has moved away from the oilrigs business to focus on exploration and production of oil and gas, refining and retail marketing of petro products, a release said.

• "The company plans to use the funds raised from the sale for its upstream and downstream plans," a company official said. Essar's oil rigs business has serviced companies such as ONGC, Saudi Aramco, Qatar Petroleum, Philippine National Oil Company, etc, over the last two decades, the release said. EOL, currently has interests in upstream projects apart from its upcoming 12 million-tonne refinery project in Gujarat. Essar has also received permission to set up 1700 retail outlets across India.

http://www.blonnet.com/stories/2003051702220200.htm

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=34393

• Welspun Gujarat Stahl Rohren Ltd, part of the Welspun Goup, has bagged an order to the tune of Rs 390 crore from public sector GAIL Ltd for submerged arc welded (SAW) pipes. The order is for GAIL's Dahej Vijaipur Pipeline Project (or HBJ upgradation) and constitutes around 94,000 tonnes of pipes.

• In addition, the company's joint venture Eupec Welspun Pipe Coating India Ltd has also received Rs 40-crore order for the same project to coat the 82.5-km pipeline. Mr B.K. Goenka, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, said the company bagged these orders through the tender process.

• Welspun Gujarat caters to the global requirement of high-grade SAW pipes, both spiral and longitudinal. However, the company did not disclose the exact time period for the project. "We will execute the project at the earliest," a company official said.

http://www.blonnet.com/stories/2003051702230200.htm

• The turnaround for oil in the political economy in the wake of the Iraq war has sharply raised Iran’s profile on India’s energy horizon. OPEC’s loosened grip on oil prices and the US’ arrival as Iran’s neighbour, both to the west and to the east have created a new mutuality between India and Iran.

• India has pitched for exploration blocks on a production sharing contract (PSC) basis as opposed to the buy-back concept that is in vogue in Iran. This could change the entire oil and gas scenario in Iran which has high reserves but a poor record of managing its oilfields. India has initiated dialogue by which it would take up exploration and production activities in oilfields on a PSC basis, which would allow Indian companies to operate the fields for the lifetime while ensuring profits and oil supplies to India.

• Under the buyback arrangement, oil companies are invited to bid for their rate of return. They are then required to invest in the oilfield and they operate the field and earn a pre-determined rate of return so long as their investments are ploughed back after providing for interest and debt. The government then takes over the field and the company has to relinquish all its rights over the blocks. This had led to heavy flogging of the oilfields in the initial years, resulting in poor returns in the later years.

• On the LNG front as well, although Iran has signed contracts for 30 mt of LNG, it has been unable to market any LNG so far. The fields are yet to be fully developed and Iran would want to have firm contracts in place to sell the product. India, which is highly energy deficient and has totted up an oil import bill of $9bn last fiscal could do with those additional LNG supplies. As per the initial agreement, India will import 5mt of LNG from Iran, in phases.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=46598013

HPCL has awarded the Rs. 1,100 crore contract for green fuel and emission control for its Mumbai refinery to Engineers India Ltd. The scope of work comprises revamping and debottlenecking of existing processing units along with installation of new naphtha splitter unit, naphtha hydrotreating unit, continuous catalytic reformer unit, FCC gasoline hydrotreating unit etc. The project is scheduled for mechanical completion by February 2005. HPCL hopes to maximise the distillate yield and upgrade product quality to meet the Euro 4 specifications for motor spirit and Euro 3 ones for diesel. EIL will also undertake jobs relating to process design of open art units for this project.

• Aker Kvaerner has been awarded the contract to provide engineering and technical procurement services for IOC's 550,000 tpa purified terephthalic acid (PTA) plant, to be constructed in India. The 350,000 man-hours project will be managed from Aker Kvaerner locations in the UK and in India.

• IOC awarded L&T the EPC contract to construct the new plant at its Haryana refinery at Panipat. L&T has since awarded the engineering and technical procurement services to Aker Kvaerner. The project will utilise DuPont's advanced PTA technology, Licensed directly to IOC.

• The project will be managed from two Aker Kvaerner locations: Aker Kvaerner's AK Process business in the UK will provide the advanced front end design, including specification of key critical equipment and project management for the overall Aker Kvaerner scope, whilst its local operations, Kvaerner Powergas India, in Mumbai, will execute the detailed design engineering.

• Oil and Gas will be a strong focus area of growth for Reliance Industries Ltd. The Company has earmarked a capital expenditure of Rs 500 crore for upstream activities and Rs 2500 crore for development of existing fields in 2003-04. The total capex planned for the current financial year is Rs 7000 crore.

• Emphasis will be on deep-water exploration. The company, which had struck gas in its maiden well, has enhanced its in place reserves to 14.5 trillion cubic feet after six wells. As of now only 16 per cent of the field in the Krishna-Godavari Basin has been explored and "there is a lot of unexplored acreage," commented Prasad, the head of RIL's Oil and Gas division. Gas is planned to be delivered within three years time, he said.

• Over the next three-four years investments will also be made in setting up pipeline infrastructure. RIL is also going ahead with its plans for setting up 2300 retail outlets envisaging investments of Rs 3000 crore by April 2004. The outlets will be in place ahead of the marketing agreement with the government oil companies coming to an end by March 2004.

• On 15th and 16th May 2003, BG Iran Ltd + BG Pipavav LNG Private Limited, BP Ltd, Petronas, Petronet LNG Ltd, Ras Laffan, Reliance Industries + Reliance LNG Private Ltd, Shell Hazira Gas Private Ltd / Shell Eastern LNG + Hazira LNG Private Limited and Yemen LNG Ltd attended NTPC's pre-bid Conference for Sourcing of LNG.
• As expected the Query resolution were one-sided wherein NTPC denied most of the suggestions and modifications requested by the bidders. Some of the minor corrections though were acceded to by NTPC. Further details are awaited

• The government has allowed a one-year moratorium till April 20, 2004, to Dutch major SHV Energy for divesting 26 per cent stake in its downstream subsidiaries, provided the company sticks to a time-bound road map for divestment. As per entry level conditions imposed on the company, SHV Energy India Ltd was required to disinvest 26 per cent stake in SHV South East Private Ltd and SHV Infrastructure by April 20 this year but the company sought a moratorium citing several reasons for the delay, sources said here on Friday.

• At its meeting on April 24, the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) allowed the company one-year extension for implementing the 26 per cent disvestment, saying the proposal was "subject to adherence with the time-bound road map for divestment now submitted by the applicant". In its application, SHV Energy India cited past losses, depressed stock markets and low investor interest as reasons to support its contention that it would be unable to locate a suitable strategic partner for the proposed divestment before April 20.

• SHV's downstream subsidiaries include three companies for the South East, North West and North East markets of the country. Besides, it has floated SHV Energy LPG North and SHV Energy LPG Infrastructure for carrying on the business of LPG Terminals, blending and bottling plants etc. As per the amalgamation and merger plans already approved, only SHV South East and SHV Infrastructure will continue to operate after the restructuring exercise is over.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/uncomp/articleshow?msid=46551743

• State-owned oil marketing companies are facing the risk of losing a major chunk of their bulk consumers of diesel, with Essar Oil set to become the first private firm that can undercut them through cheaper imports. Essar Oil contracted 20,000 tonnes of diesel after the new export-import policy allowed oil firms with marketing licences to directly import petroproducts. The consignment is expected to reach by the month-end and the diesel will be unloaded at Mumbai and Mundhra ports, industry sources said.

• Essar is unlikely to move the diesel inland as it is yet to set up its retail chain and will sell the consignment at the port itself to bulk consumers in the power, fertiliser and manufacturing sectors. This will allow the company to price its diesel cheaper by at least 40 paise a litre on the basis of import-parity. Considering the high volumes, even this difference will turn into big savings for the consumers. This puts state-owned oil marketing companies at a disadvantage as they do not enjoy full import parity pricing in which products cost more in upcountry areas than in coastal regions owing to transportation charges.

•  IndianOil Corporation could be the biggest loser as industries in coastal areas account for half of its six million tonnes’ direct sale of diesel. The oil ministry’s refusal to allow differential pricing by the state-run firms will make their products uncompetitive in coastal areas. These firms now recover half of the upcountry transportation costs through their coastal sales to keep prices near-uniform. Essar had sought product supplies from IndianOil to feed its retail network. Though IndianOil had agreed in-principle to supply products, a deal was yet to be firmed up. Both the companies declined to comment, saying talks were an ‘‘ongoing process’’.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/uncomp/articleshow?msid=46508839

• IN a bid to reward its customers, oil retailer Indian Oil Corporation today kicked off an award programme for its cash customers. Unveiling IOC Xtra, Mr M.S. Ramachandran, Chairman, IOC, said that cash customers would earn reward points against such purchases covering not just fuel but a whole host of other items including lubricants and other IOC products.

• The new scheme would be open on a subscription basis for a nominal fee in 500 retail outlets across 79 cities in the first phase. This would be extended to over 2,000 outlets later on. Customers enrolling for the programme would receive a card to which reward points would be added every time the card is used at select outlets against cash purchases. Points in turn could be redeemed for items like vehicles, electronics, tea sets and bags.

http://www.blonnet.com/stories/2003051601960600.htm

• Cellular operators are against the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) imposing access deficit charges because these will increase tariffs. They said if the charges were imposed on them, WLL operators should be covered as well. This is the stand taken by cellular services firms on the consultation paper on interconnect charges issued by Trai yesterday. Their disapproval will make the review of the interconnect charges a rough affair.

• Basic operators have different views on issues like the calling-party-pays regime and access deficit charges. They, including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), are in favour of imposing access deficit charges on all service providers to lower fixed line tariffs. They are also against the calling-party-pays regime because it has hiked fixed-to-cell tariffs by 200 per cent.

• On the other hand, cellular operators said they would oppose any attempt by the regulator to end the free incoming regime for mobile users. “We are going to raise two issues: first, there will be no review of free incoming calls, and second, the terms should be uniform for cellular and WLL operators,” an executive with a cellular services firm said.

http://www.business-standard.com/today/story.asp?story=14587

• Essar Teleholdings, the telecom arm of the Essar Group, is eyeing the Lebanese GSM cellular market. It has bid for the country’s two government-owned networks. Confirming the development, Vikas Saraf, chief executive officer of Essar Teleholdings, said: “The two companies, Cellis and LibanCell, are being privatised, and the government of Lebanon has invited operators to take part in the process. We have bid as part of a consortium.”

• With 4 million subscribers, the Lebanese cellular market was lucrative, Saraf said. He, however, refused to divulge Essar’s stake in the consortium. Apart from the high average revenue per user in Lebanon, the privatisation of cellular companies is being followed by the global market because it will be the first in a series to reduce the government’s burgeoning annual budget deficit. The Lebanese government had nationalised Cellis and LibanCell in 2001. It now plans to auction 20-year licences for the two companies.

• The two networks were operating on build-lease licences and had offered the government $1.35 billion each to convert their contracts into 20-year licences. But the offers were rejected and the existing contracts cancelled three years before they were due for renegotiation.

http://www.business-standard.com/today/story.asp?Menu=2&story=14588

• The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) is looking to restructure its organisational set-up after smaller operators complained that the body is being run by a few big players. Some of the smaller firms also said strategic decisions were being taken without consulting the executive council of the association.

• According to the subscription figures released by the COAI, Bharti Tele, Hutchison and the Birla-Tata-AT&T combine were the top three cellular firms in terms of subscribers as well as geographical reach. Escotel, Spice Telecom and RPG Cellular were among the smaller ones. At a meeting held on April 28, some of the smaller operators even demanded secondary membership for them at a lower rate of subscription.

• During the meeting , some cellular firms asked the COAI to review its legal strategy. The firms said the appeal filed with the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal against the interconnection usage charges (IUC) was prepared in a hurry, and the approval of the executive council was not sought.

http://www.business-standard.com/today/story.asp?Menu=19&story=14581

• In a bid to simplify cellular tariffs, Bharti has announced a new tariff plan AirTel 012. For subscribers choosing this plan, outgoing local calls to any GSM mobile would cost only Re1/minute. Mobile-to-mobile STD calls would cost Re 1.99. The monthly rental is Rs 299. “At less than Rs 2, making an STD call is cheaper than using a landline,’’ says Mr Manoj Kohli, president (mobility), Bharti Tele-Ventures.

• “With AirTel 012, we are now taking the lead in simplifying the entry plan for consumers who are confused by the complexity and the multitude of plans. AirTel 012 plan is the simplest and the most affordable plan for a mobile customer,’’ he adds.

• The customer does not have to give any entry deposit for making mobile-to-mobile STD calls. Bharti offers mobile services in fifteen out of 22 circles in India. As of April 30, approximately 91% of India’s total number of mobile subscribers resided in Bharti’s existing and proposed mobile circles, according to COAI.

• For the year ended March 31, the company’s revenue and EBITDA were Rs 3,083 crore and Rs 771 crore, respectively. As on March 31, the company has made a gross investment of over Rs 9,700 crore in building telecom in India.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=46602746

• Communications minister Arun Shourie will launch Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd’s revamped limited mobility service, Garuda on Saturday. The new CDMA-based mobile service will see MTNL offer a tariff of 14 paise per 12 second pulse, working out to 70 paise per minute.

• MTNL’s CDMA 1X 3G technology-based network for 100,000 lines has been ready in Delhi for some time. The launch of the service had been held back for want of regulatory clearance. Trai had objected to MTNL’s tariff filing of a 12-second pulse.

• However, MTNL has been offered respite by the regulator’s recent move to review the interconnect usage charge (IUC) regime and give operators the freedom, for the next three months, to offer tariffs that complied, in their opinion, with regulatory requirements.

• MTNL’s earlier WLL offering, Garuda, had deployed switches based on outdated technology in compliance with Trai specifications. The new switches for the revamped Garuda launch are the latest in technology and offer always-on-Internet connectivity at 144 kbps.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=46602846

• Next time you get lost, your cellphone could tell you exactly where you are, and even the deals available in the nearby restaurants and stores. Hutchison is starting a broadcast service that tells subscribers their location on the phone in Delhi.

• To begin with, your location will start flashing on your handset as you move from one part of the city to another. Next the company plans to tie-up with local restaurants and other stores to inform subscribers about the deals available in the neighbourhood.

• So, as you enter a new area, you could get an SMS announcing the closest restaurant or a store. “This is ideal for roamers and even for Delhi residents who might get lost in the ever-expanding city,’’ says Rajiv Sawhney, CEO, Hutch (Delhi). “This is only a precursor to other location-based services,’’ he promises.

• The service is available on almost all handsets in the market today, claims the company. Even though the service is available to all customers and no extra charges are levied, company might later start earning through stores which would like to announce themselves on the mobile phones.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=46602107

• Reliance Industries Ltd has revised the estimated capital expenditure for its Infocomm project to Rs 18,000 crore from the earlier estimates of Rs 25,000 crore. ``The revision is attributed to the sharp fall in telecom equipment cost globally,'' the company has said in its annual report for the financial year 2002-03.

• The company has, however, maintained that the overall scope of the infocomm project has increased in spite of the reduction in capex estimates. According to RIL, it has already put in place a 60,000 km terabit capacity optic fibre network linking 600 cities and towns. The company plans to increase this network to cover 1.16 lakh km connecting 6.4 lakh villages and 2,500 towns and cities.

• The company recently launched its Reliance IndiaMobile limited mobility services in the first phase of the planned infocomm project. The second phase would initially comprise 100 mbps ethernet links to 5 lakh enterprise buildings, later extended to 100 lakh buildings.

• The third phase of the infocomm project would initially involve extending ethernet links to 8 crore homes. The company's telecom arm, Reliance Telecom Ltd (RTL), which provides basic and cellular services, has filed for demerger of its basic telephony services in Gujarat, effective March 6, 2003, with the Ahmedabad High Court.

http://www.blonnet.com/stories/2003051702560500.htm

• The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), Coimbatore, has notified the doubling of the pulse rate for local calls from basic to cellular phones from all telephone exchanges in Coimbatore Short Distance Charging Area (SDCA) with effect from Saturday, May 17.

• The pulse rate for the calls is being changed from 30 seconds to 60 seconds in the Coimbatore SDCA, which covers the Coimbatore city. However, similar calls made from exchanges in rest of the district will be costlier since they would continue to have a lower pulse rate.

• BSNL has said that the pulse rate for local calls from basic to cellular mobile phones in all telephone exchanges in Tirupur, Palladam, Avanashi, Mettupalayam, Uamalpet, Pollachi and Anamalai SDCAs in the district would continue to be 30 seconds.

http://www.blonnet.com/stories/2003051701421700.htm

• The Escotel Mobile Communications Ltd (Escotel) has announced on the occasion of the World Telecom Day (May 17), that a new post-paid connection would be available for just Rs 1,000 while every new Let's Talk pre-paid connection would have a talk time worth Rs 150.

• Besides, old post-paid/pre-paid customers who wish to get on to Escotel again could do so by availing of the special offer under the Welcome Back scheme, an official press release here said.

• In addition, there will be free handset check-up and a special 20 per cent off on accessories. Customers can also choose from a wide range of handsets and upgrade to 32K SIM for an exchange price of Rs 250, it added.

http://www.blonnet.com/stories/2003051700821704.htm

• All 22 Indonesian crew on board `Sigitika Biru' — the Indonesian flag cargo vessel that is half-sunk in the East of Eastern Channel in the Hooghly River — have been rescued by `Harsha', a product tanker. They are being brought to Haldia dock. Kolkata Port Trust has also sent a Dredging Corporation of India's dredger to the spot where the vessel is now half-submerged.

• Earlier, the port authorities had to approach the Shipping Ministry for help as the Coast Guard, which is supposed to swing into action in such a situation, was of little help, according to port sources. Coast Guard's hovercraft, it was felt, would not be of much help because of the inclement weather in the area. There was even talk of bringing Coast Guard's vessel, `Razia Sultana' from Paradip.

• The Indonesian vessel carrying 5,327 tonnes of soda ash from Porbandar in Gujarat to Chittagong in Bangladesh developed a hole in her cargo hold while in sea. Changing the route, the Master of the vessel decided to come to Haldia for repair. However, even before arriving at Haldia, water seepage increased, so much so that the vessel started sinking. Initially, the crew declined to be rescued, but later agreed to it realising the gravity of the situation.

http://www.blonnet.com/stories/2003051702160600.htm

• Had the tonnage tax regime been in place for the Indian shipping industry, instead of the present corporate tax system, the equity of Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) would have had `added value' during its on-going disinvestment programme, according to Mr Srivastava, SCI Chairman.

• He told reporters on Thursday that the tonnage tax regime would have had got SCI a `better deal' from prospective foreign buyers. "In fact, a tonnage tax regime will be a good catalyst to encourage foreign companies to come to India,'' he said. Asked whether SCI would cease to become the country's national carrier if a foreign company were to acquire controlling stake after the disinvestment programme, Mr Srivastava replied in the negative.

• "As long as the SCI vessels remain in the Indian registry, the company would continue to be India's national carrier, even if it were to be controlled by a foreign company,'' he said. He did not subscribe to the view that a foreign company acquiring controlling stake in SCI would compromise on the country's security.

http://www.blonnet.com/stories/2003051702530500.htm

• In what is being perceived as the single largest foreign direct investment deal in recent months, the UK-based P&O Ports has finally inked a $200 million deal for outright acquisition of the container terminal of the Mundra Port, promoted by the Ahmedabad-based Rs 4,000 crore Adani group.

• At an informal chat with mediapersons here today, Adani chairman Gautam Adani informed that the agreement was signed for the taking over of the container terminal on Thursday following clearances from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board and the Gujarat government. According to Mr Adani, under the terms of agreement P&O Ports has picked up the Adani group’s stake in the terminal for a consideration of $60 million while another $140 million has gone into purchase of numerous assets built by Gujarat Adani Ports Limited for the terminal including a wharf and a back-up yard as also the use of certain infrastructure facilities of the Mundra Port.

• Mr Adani claimed that the deal was not only a feather in the cap for the group but also for the state government which, of late, has been perceived to be losing its midas touch in terms of attracting FDI into the state. It is expected that P&O Ports would invest around Rs 1,500 crore to develop a world class container terminal at Mundra over the next few years. With three container terminals in India, including the NSICT at JNPT and CCTL at Chennai Port, P&O Ports is poised to become a market leader in container handling in the country in the near future.

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=34386

• About 16 large overseas builders are jostling for a piece of the Rs 12,000 crore-worth of contracts to build and improve 3,003 km of national highways. About 23 short-listed BoT projects to four-lane national highways have attracted 115-odd bids, many from Malaysia and Singapore.

• The overseas bidders include IJM Bhd, Gamuda Bhd, Meinhardt, Tiong Seng Bhd, GMR, Dutcell, Hohup Bhd, United Engineers Bhd, Dhaya Maju Bhd, Maitas Bhd, RBM Bhd, SNC Bhd, Ose Bhd, HCM Bhd, RBH Bhd and Delomite.

• The local list includes IL&FS (13 bids), Srei (7), Gammon (5), Gyatri Construction (7), HCC (5), L&T (5), Ircon (3), Unitech (2), IDFC (2), DS Construction (2), Punj Lloyd (2), Nagarjuna Construction (2), and Essar, Adani and Som Dutt with one bid each.

• The renewed interest may be attributed not just to the value of the contracts —Rs 9,009-12,012 crore — but also to a more sensible bidding process that allows companies to pitch for entire projects, from feasibility studies to construction, operation and maintenance. Earlier, tenders for each aspect of a project were awarded separately, resulting in poor bidder turnouts. The last date for submission of applications for empanelment was April 18, with a 15-day extension. The shortlisted candidates are likely to be announced tomorrow.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=46597622

• The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will kick off the second leg of the World Bank-aided city transport development plan on Wednesday. The Rs 45.26 bn project envisages 20 road works to improve the east-west traffic in the city. Improvement is planned for 250 kms of roads to ensure smooth traffic flow from the eastern suburbs to the west, by removing bottlenecks and encroachments. The inadequacy of east-west connectivity has been a major constraint for the city. Two link roads — Jogeshwari-Vikhroli and Santa Cruz-Chembur — are also being developed. Widening of the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli link road will begin on Wednesday.

• The Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Project (MUIP), under which the road development project will be carried out, has been recently cleared by the executive committee of the MMRDA and the state government. The plan includes building 20 roads in the western suburbs and widening 33 others. While Rs 12.58 bn has been sanctioned for the eastern suburbs, Rs 7.23 bn has been allotted for the western suburbs. The project is completely funded through internal borrowings and joint ventures. The MMRDA has drawn up a Rs 20 bn blueprint to ensure free-flowing traffic. The plan proposes 20 flyovers in the east-west corridors, elevated road-over-roads and road-over-bridges to ensure smooth traffic flow. A Light Rail Transit  System connecting Ghatkopar to Andheri is also planned. The project is to be completed by ’06.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/uncomp/articleshow?msid=46293886