Core sector powers PSU topline

NEW DELHI: The government’s efforts to boost infrastructure-related activity seems to be paying off. Infrastructure PSUs have shown record growth in areas such as petroleum, minerals & metals, coal & lignite and steel.

All public sector enterprises have shown 19% growth in terms of turnover over the past two financial years, ’04-05 and ’05-06. The increase in turnover of these PSUs during this period is estimated at Rs 1,13,810.5 crore.

Out of this, the major push to turnover of these state-owned enterprises has come form the record growth registered by oil & gas PSUs. This sector has registered an increase in turnover worth Rs 80,490 crore, which is 70% of total increase in turnover over two years for all enterprises, according to the latest public enterprises survey.

The other sectors where PSUs have shown significant progress include steel and minerals & metals, with a whopping growth of almost 33% and 42%, respectively. While steel has recorded topline growth Rs 9,537 crore over ’03-04 and ’04-05, minerals & metals have witnessed an increase in turnover of Rs 2,868 crore.

Coal and lignite has also shown an increase in turnover of Rs 4,195 crore, recording a growth rate of 16.9%. Power PSUs have witnessed an increase in turnover of Rs 4,688 crore, indicating a growth rate of 18.52%.