The Hindu Business Line : Infrastructure sector posts 8.7% growth in Feb

New Delhi, April 3 High growth in the production of coal, power and cement pulled up the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) for infrastructure to 8.7 per cent in February 2008 as against 7.6 per cent in February 2007, reviving hopes that industrial production would speed up further in the coming months.

Coal production increased by 11.7 per cent during February this year as against 6.5 per cent in the same month last year. Power generation improved by 9.6 per cent during the month compared to 3.3 per cent in the corresponding month last year while cement output increased by12.4 per cent against 5.8 per cent in February 2007.

However, growth rate for crude oil, petroleum refinery products and finished steel during February 2008 was lower than that in February 2007.

The growth in the production of crude oil, petroleum refinery products and finished steel during February this year stood at 2.3 per cent, 5.8 per cent and 8.2 per cent as against 4.9 per cent, 11.3 per cent and 13.6 per cent, respectively in February 2007.

During the April-February 2007-08, the overall growth rate in the six infrastructure sector industries stood at 5.6 per cent as against 8.7 per cent in the same period of the previous year.

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