The Hindu Business Line : Pondy's Plan outlay fixed at Rs 1,410 cr — Promotion of public-private partnership commended

ANNUAL CALL: The Chief Minister of Pondicherry, Mr N. Rangasamy, calling on the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, in the Capital on Wednesday. — Ramesh Sharma

New Delhi , Jan. 4

THE annual Plan outlay of Pondicherry for the next fiscal has been fixed at Rs 1,410 crore, which is inclusive of an additional Central assistance of Rs 220 crore for tsunami relief and rehabilitation.

At a meeting between the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and the Chief Minister, Mr N. Rangaswamy, to determine the next fiscal Plan size of the Union Territory, Mr Ahluwalia took note of the appreciable progress of Pondicherry's performance in both social and economic fronts.

He said that other States could emulate it in promoting public-private partnership in bridging critical gaps in infrastructure.

Stating that the region has excellent tourism potential, Mr Ahluwalia assured the Chief Minister that the Plan panel would approach the Finance Ministry for providing funds from the special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the construction of six-lane roads linking ports and airports with national highways and special economic zones.

He said that the SPV has been exclusively set up to fund requirement for such viable projects.

Briefing the Commission on the pace and pattern of development, the Chief Minister said that the Union Territory was adhering to the Centre's guidelines meticulously and that efforts were on to encourage private sector involvement in infrastructure building.

As much as half of the Plan funds were being spent for social services sector and sought enhancement of Plan allocation to beef up infrastructure facilities including construction of bed-dams, bridges, bus terminals, and underground drainage facilities.

He also said that the tender for development of ports at Pondicherry and Karaikal on build, operate, and transfer (BOT) basis and also for special economic zone would be issued shortly.

Flights connecting Pondicherry directly with Chennai, Bangalore, and Tirupati by a private airliner would commence later this month, giving a leg-up in faster connectivity.