Outlay of Rs 51 lakh crore projected for Infra in 12th Plan

The Planning Commission is aiming at a total outlay of Rs 51.46 lakh crore in the infrastructure sector during the 12th Plan (2012-17), short of the earlier projection of $1 trillion (about Rs 55 lakh crore).

“The total investment during the 12th Plan is projected at Rs 51.46 lakh crore compared to Rs 27.74 lakh crore realised during the 11th Plan”, a source privy to the development said.

While the public investment in the infrastructure sector is expected to decrease to 53.32 percent in the 12th Plan from about 62.47 percent in the previous Plan, the share of private sector is projected to increase to 46.68 percent from 37.53 percent.

Sources further said that infrastructure sector investment as percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to rise steadily to 10.40 percent in the terminal year (2016-17) of the 12th Plan.

The average investment in infrastructure sector for the 12th Plan as a whole is likely to be about 9.14 percent of the GDP as compared to 7.22 percent during the previous Plan.

As per the details, the highest investment is envisaged in power sector at about Rs 15 lakh crore, roads follow at Rs 9.2 lakh crore, telecommunication at Rs 8.84 lakh crore and railways at Rs 4.56 lakh crore.

These proposals will be placed before the meeting of the Full Planning Commission to be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday.

Although the Prime Minister in March 2010 had pegged the investment target for infrastructure sector during the 12th Plan at $1 trillion, the figures in dollar terms have to be revised in view of falling value of rupee.

PTI