Government to revamp road infrastructure in Kashmir, northeast

September 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The prime minister's task force on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) held its first meeting here Friday to discuss the problems of the sector and formed seven sub-groups to suggest remedial measures. The task force reviewed the problems faced by these enterprises across the spectrum, particularly the lack of credit facilities available for small enterprises, a government statement said.

August 31st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Telecom majors Reliance Communications (RCom) and Aircel are on the verge of signing a $300-million agreement for sharing telecom infrastructure like towers, sources close to the deal said Monday. "The deal will offer RCom a revenue upside of over Rs.1,500 crore.

August 21st, 2009 Akhaurah (India-Bangladesh Border), - Bangladesh has said it will increase trade and economic activities with India's northeast region and develop infrastructure at the border. Bangladesh Commerce Minister Colonel (retired) Faruk Khan said: "We have decided to increase trade and business with the northeastern region to reduce Bangladesh's trade gap with India.

August 10th, 2009 NEW DELHI - To attract foreign investment in the road sector in India, Road Transport and Highways Minister Kamal Nath will inaugurate a road show in Zurich on Tuesday. The road show "Building India: Road Infrastructure Summit " is being jointly organized by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), ICICI Bank, J M Financial Consultants Ltd.

July 30th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Kamal Nath on Thursday said that roads would play an important role in infrastructure development in the next decade. During a seminar at Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI), Kamal Nath said that roads are important as they provide domestic economic stimulus.

July 4th, 2009 AGARTALA - The Left Front government in Tripura Saturday voiced its unhappiness over the railway budget, saying Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee had ignored the northeast by announcing no new schemes or projects for the region. "No new scheme or project was announced in the railway budget.

June 30th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The ministry of road transport and highways has earmarked Rs.13,397.2 crore for road projects in Jammu and Kashmir and northeastern states, it said Tuesday while releasing its 100-day agenda. The ministry has also set time lines for 30 projects so that they will be executed on fast track.

June 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) Wednesday urged the government to exempt infrastructure projects from excise, value-added tax (VAT) and central sales tax (CST) to make them more cost-effective. "On account of excise, VAT and CST, the capital costs of projects become dearer by over 20-25 percent which puts huge burden on companies commissioning infrastructure projects," said Assocham president Sajjan Jindal.

June 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - After assessing security preparedness in Jammu and Kashmir last week, Indian Army chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor would be visiting the northeast region Tuesday to review the security situation, defence officials said Monday.

June 1st, 2009 KOLKATA - Outgoing British Deputy High Commissioner Simon Wilson Monday rapped the West Bengal government for the pitiable state of infrastructure saying the roads here are "horrible and dangerous". "The overall infrastructure in the state needs to be developed.

May 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Road Transport and Highways Minister Kamal Nath Friday said regulations covering India's road network will be overhauled even as he promised to change the physical landscape of the country's transport infrastructure in due time. "We need to look at the old regulatory framework in an entirely new way and that will call for a complete change of mindset.

April 26th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) has urged the government to set up a 'separate infrastructure financing fund' worth $90 billion to finance infrastructure projects in the next three years. In a note submitted to the Planning Commission and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Assocham secretary general D.S.

March 21st, 2009 NEW DELHI - About 40 percent of the country's road projects put up for competitive bidding have found no takers due to the economic slowdown, a Planning Commission member said here Friday. 'Of the 60 road projects that had been put up for competitive bidding, 40 percent received no bids,' Planning Commission member Kirit Parikh said.

February 27th, 2009 JAMMU - Jammu and Kashmir, where road density is one of the lowest in the country, will get over Rs.80 billion (Rs.8,000 crore) from the central government to upgrade its vital road network. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs Thursday sanctioned the amount for upgrading 264 km of national highways as part of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) North-South corridor.

January 27th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has promised 'all support' to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to revamp health services in the troubled state. The minister gave this assurance to Abdullah here Tuesday night.