The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is expected to shortly issue final guidelines for External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs) for low-cost housing projects. Read more...

With the lack of cheap credit and increased debt servicing levels and with the declining rate of foreign direct investment in the real estate sector, the Union Budget 2012 was the only aspiring ray of hope for the sector to get back on track.The sector has contributed only five percent of India’s overall GDP this year as compared to a contribution of 10.6 percent in FY 2010-11. Read more...

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee’s Budget for FY 2012-13 aims to provide boost to infrastructure development in the country by doubling tax-free infrastructure bonds which can be issued by government undertakings from Rs 30,000 crore to Rs 60,000 crore.This amount can be raised any time in 2012-13 and has been allocated among six public sector infrastructure finance companies. Read more...

Easy to use, factory packed, self curing, achieves high compressive strength - > 3 N / mm2 in 4 hours and can be painted over, 24 hours after application – this is MortaRep SuperStrong a polymer modified multi purpose mortar for concrete and brick surfaces which can be easily applied on horizontal, vertical, and over head surfaces in a single layer and up to a thickness of 50 mm. Read more...

We as the umbrella body of real estate in the country feel disappointed by the unyielding measures taken by the Finance Minister in the Union Budget of 2012-13.The proposal of bringing in an umbrella tax structure to the cement industry will increase the cost of housing in India and will negate the development process of the sector. Read more...

Overall, there is no announcement in terms of direct initiative for the Indian shipping industry in the Budget. The customs duty on ships (CVD) which was introduced in the Budget last year has now been notified to be withdrawn with retrospective effect. Read more...

We expect that the real estate sector should be granted “Industry” status which has been long pending. This would help the sector to access finance from multiple avenues at most competitive cost and in a structured manner. Also 80IB (10) benefit should be revived from affordable housing perspective so as to fulfill the demand in this segment. Read more...

The Budget is expected to provide certain policy directions which will shape the course of the economy in the coming months. Infrastructure can be a game stopper for the economy if capacity addition is not done proactively. A Big Push on the infrastructure front is very much needed at this point, especially keeping in mind the numerous positive spin-offs infrastructure creation has in terms of generation of employment and revenue Read more...

In order to finance the buy back of outstanding foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs) and also to meet investment plans, JSW Steel is in the process of borrowing $275 million through external commercial borrowings (ECBs) at Libor + 4 per cent interest rate per year. Read more...

Though news of slowdown has been the flavour of media as well as the common man, the real impact, if negative, could very augur well for the Indian contractors. Euro zone is reeling under pressure from the past two years and no comprehensive solution has yet been reached. Read more...