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New Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Hockey field, RoB, osmosis plant: Pondy to get infra boost with Rs 200cr aid, Rs 4,950cr ADB Loan
PUDUCHERRY: Chief Minister N Rangasamy on Friday announced a major infrastructure development drive, with the centre providing a Rs 200 crore special assistance and a Rs 4,750 crore soft loan approved by Asian Development Bank (ADB). At a press conference with Public Works Department (PWD) Minister K Lakshminarayanan, he said that a detailed project report for 14 infrastructure works worth Rs 129.56 crore has been already approved by the centre. The projects are expected to begin shortly and will be completed by March 2026. Alongside this, projects worth Rs 5 crore from the state government's funds have been instructed to be completed. 'We are going to revise the projects for the remaining Rs 80 crore and send them back to the Central Government," he said. Approved projects include the completion of the long-pending road over bridge across the Uppanar canal, underground power cabling from JIPMER to Venkatanagar substation, installation of 50 community reverse osmosis plants, construction of bus shelters, laying of Astroturf hockey field and synthetic athletic track, and road improvements. New government buildings also feature in the plan. The larger ADB-funded initiative will focus on critical sectors including drinking water, sewerage, and roads. One of the key projects includes two desalination plants at Rs 1000 crores. As per the agreement between the Puducherry government and the Tamil Nadu government, a Rs 350 crore project has been planned to supply water to 140 kilometers by laying a pipeline from the Sathanur dam to Bahour and kirumampakkam lakes beneath Penniyar river. Apart from this, Rs 250 crore is allocated to build underground sewers, and Rs 189 crore for development of roads in Puducherry government departments. The portfolio will be allotted to the minister at any time, the CM said. A 100 MLD water treatment plant will also be built at Sankarabarani River to implement a 24x7 'drink from the tap' scheme. Two 50 MLD desalination plants will also be set up at Dubrayapet. Urban renewal projects will include expansion of the iconic Puducherry Promenade from the Old Port to Chunambar and Muthialpet. An elevated corridor between Marapalam and Ariyankuppam Junction has been planned to ease traffic congestion. Improvements to pedestrian infrastructure on Nehru Street, M.G. Road, and Mission Street, and construction of multilevel parking facilities at the Old Jail Complex and Grand Canal, are also on the anvil. The government plans to link commune headquarters like Bahour, Nettapakkam, and Mannadipet, Sedarapet and Kalapet, to the new National Highway from Kunimedu to Thiruvandarkoil to improve road connectivity. Villianur and Murungapakkam will be connected to the Villupuram–Nagapattinam bypass, with the widening of 50 km road and land acquistion.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Centre releases ₹129 crore towards infrastructure development in U.T.
The Centre has released ₹129 crore as first part of the special assistance scheme sanctioned for infrastructure development in the Union Territory, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy said on Friday (August 8, 2025). Addressing reporters, Mr. Rangasamy said the Union Territory had been sanctioned a sum of ₹200 crore under this component. 'The funds will be utilised for completing as many as 14 development projects by the end of this fiscal,' he said. The development works, include establishment of water purification plants at various places where high levels of Total Dissolved Solids in drinking water had been detected across Puducherry, improving connectivity to spiritual tourist destinations (Swadesh Darshan 2.0) in the Union Territory of Puducherry and creating bus stands. The government expects the Centre to release the remaining part of the sanctioned amount soon. According to Mr. Rangasamy, various other projects were being undertaken in the Union Territory with a loan to the tune of ₹4,750 crore from the Asian Development Bank. The repayment period for the soft loan (at an interest rate of 3-4%) is 50 years. These projects would be implemented in two phases over the next five years, the Chief Minister added. The projects, include drinking water supply (₹2,030 crore), tourism and transport upgrade (₹1,170 crore), desalination plants (₹1,000 crore) and an underground sewerage system (₹200 crore). No new taxes will be levied on the people on account of the ADB loan, he said. Meanwhile, the PRTC contract staff, including drivers and conductors, had agreed to withdraw their indefinite strike following an assurance of a hike in pay by ₹10,000, the Chief Minister said. On their other demands for regularisation and incentives, he said a decision would be taken after examining the state of finances. On the acquisition of electric buses for the PRTC, Mr. Rangasamy said the first lot of 25 vehicles is expected to be operational in a couple of months. Work on the battery charging station is over. Mr. Rangasamy brushed aside the corruption allegations being raised against the government by the Opposition, especially the Congress, with a delegation of its leaders submitting a petition to the President in Delhi recently. 'It is standard behaviour for those now in the Opposition to level baseless charges against a government that is pushing for development and welfare to cover up their own record of inept governance,' the Chief Minister said in reply to a question. Responding to another question, Mr. Rangasamy said fighting to secure more funds from the Centre and continuing to demand Statehood were two distinct struggles. 'We will never give up on asking for statehood. That demand will always be there. If necessary, we will convene a special Assembly session and pass a resolution,' he said.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Consultation on KCR revival under way: Sharjeel
KARACHI: Sindh Senior Minister and Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon has welcomed the efforts of the Senate Committee on Railways regarding the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), stating that consultations are under way with international partners including the Asian Development Bank. In a statement, Memon said the provincial government, under the leadership of the Sindh Chief Minister, is fully committed to the completion of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), which will be undertaken on a priority basis. He expressed hope that the federal government would extend its cooperation in removing the hurdles facing the KCR project, adding that the Sindh Mass Transit Authority has been directed to coordinate with Pakistan Railways to expedite progress. Sharjeel Inam Memon said the KCR would serve as a vital transit facility for Karachi's 25 million residents. He welcomed the recommendations of the Senate Committee and expressed hope that the existing obstacles would be resolved soon. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Mills asked to comply with global conventions
Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director Emma Fan met with Pakistan's textile millers and discussed in detail the industry's performance, outlook for exports and ways and means for further increasing the volume and value of textile shipments. An ADB delegation, headed by Emma Fan and comprising Asad Aleem, Deputy Country Director, Khayyam Abbasi, Programmes Officer and Shaheryar Choudhry, Senior Investment Officer, held an intensive brainstorming session with the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) management. The delegation asked the business community in general and textile exporters in particular to take immediate measures for compliance with all international conventions, especially with reference to sustainability, labour and human rights. It gave insightful information on the ADB's new Country Partnership Strategy for Pakistan as well as highlighted the key opportunities in different realms of economy and the challenges facing the region. Emma Fan pointed out that the ADB strategy outlines four priority areas, which include energising the private sector, optimising the public sector, enabling human resources, expanding connectivity and access and fostering resilience aimed at long-term economic growth. In the consultative session, the critical role of consistent business-friendly policies and broadening the export base to higher value-added textile exports were particularly highlighted. The ADB expressed strong interest in deepening collaboration with Aptma as part of its strategic road map for Pakistan's sustainable growth. Speaking on the occasion, Aptma Chairman Kamran Arshad gave an overview of Pakistan's textile industry, the major issues faced by it and the way forward in enhancing coordination with the ADB. He also discussed the $50 billion textile export vision over a period of five years through setting up 1,000 garment plants with plug-and-play facilities in the dedicated apparel parks. He sought the bank's assistance for developing the proposed parks, which would not only boost exports, but also generate employment opportunities for millions of workers, reduce poverty and boost foreign exchange reserves. Highlighting the export potential, Kamran Arshad said that Pakistan had registered an impressive growth in value-added textile sectors. More than 70% of Pakistan's exports consist of knitwear, garments, bed wear and towels. Value-added exports have risen sharply in the last decade, especially after the European Union's GSP Plus status.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
ADB, APTMA discuss ways to augment textile exports
LAHORE: Emma Fan, Country Director, Asian Development Bank (ADB) has discussed in detail textile sector's performance, outlook of global textile exports and the ways and means to further upsurge the volume and value of Pakistan's textile exports. ADB delegation headed Ms Emma Fan, Country Director, including Asad Aleem, Deputy Country Director, Khayyam Abbasi, Programmes Officer, Shaheryar Choudhry, Senior Investment Officer and M Ismail Khan, Unit Head, Media Communications & Public Policy had intensive brainstorming session with APTMA management at Lahore. On arrival at APTMA, ADB delegation was received by APTMA office-bearers including Kamran Arshad Chairman, Asad Shafi Chairman North, Haroon Ellahi Shaikh, Muhammad Ali, Ahsan Shahid, Senior Executives and the Secretary General Raza Baqir along with other leading exporters and members of the Association. July textile exports grow 33.7pc to $1.69bn YoY ADB delegation asked business community in general and textile exporters in particular to adopt immediate measures for compliance of all international conventions especially with reference to sustainability issues, labour and human rights. ADB delegation gave insightful information about ADB with focus on their new Country Partnership Strategy for Pakistan. They highlighted key opportunities in different realms of economy and the pivotal challenges facing the region. Emma Fan pointed out that ADB strategy outlines four priority areas which include energising the private sector, optimising public sector, enabling human resource, expanding connectivity and access and fostering resilience aimed at long term economic growth of Pakistan. ADB-APTMA Consul-tative Session had detailed brainstorming on Pakistan's export potential across diverse sectors with focus on textiles and apparels. Critical role of consistent business friendly policies and broadening of the country's export base to higher value added textile exports were particularly highlighted. ADB expressed strong interest in deepening collaboration with APTMA as part of its strategic road map for Pakistan's sustainable growth. Speaking on the occasion, Kamran Arshad Chairman APTMA gave an overview of Pakistan's textile industry, major issues faced by the industry and way forward for enhancing ADB APTMA coordination. He also presented $50 billion textile export vision in a span of 5 years through setting up of 1000 garments plant with plug and play facilities in dedicated Apparel Parks. He sought assistance from ADB for the development of the proposed Apparel Parks which would not only boost exports but also generate employment opportunities for millions of workers directly and indirectly to help in poverty alleviation and uplift foreign exchange reserves. Highlighting export potential of Pakistan, Kamran informed that Pakistan has witnessed impressive growth in value added textile sectors. He added that more than 70 percent of Pakistan's exports consisted of knitwear, garments, bed wear and towels. Value added exports have registered marvellous growth during the last decade especially after GSP Plus granted to Pakistan by EU. Asad Shafi, Chairman North briefed ADB delegation about massive improvements achieved by textile industry of Pakistan after GSP Plus due to compliance of all UN conventions especially relating to labour and human rights, good governance, environment and emission control. He said that Pakistan has launched a National Compliance Centre which will work with business community to improve understanding of international compliance requirements and to promote a culture of equitable growth and discrimination free workplace. He added that APTMA has actively contributed to the establishment of National Compliance Centre and Textile laboratory for DNA testing to verify authenticity of cotton resources and adoption for a unified, mandatory traceability system across entire textile value added chain to meet EU regulatory requirements. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
