Infrastructure sector too has started showing signs of buoyancy. The sector grew at 5.9 per cent in December 2003 as compared to a growth rate of 4.4 per cent in the same month last year.According to an official release, growth in petroleum refinery output, power generation and crude oil production was higher than December 2002 but that in coal and finished steel slipped marginally lower than the corresponding period. Cement growth rate was down to a modest 5.5 per cent from a high of 16.2 per cent in 2002.The six infrastructure industries posted a lower growth rate of 4.5 per cent in the first three quarters of 2003-04 as against 6 per cent growth in April-December 2002. 2003-04 has been a roller-coaster ride for the six industries. The year began with a growth rate of 3.9 per cent in April and went up to 4.8 per cent in June before slipping to 2.6 per cent in July. It again looked up to touch 5.9 per cent growth rate in September but dipped in the following month to 3.1 per cent.Crude oil production rate grew by 3.1 per cent in December 2003 against 1 per cent growth rate in the same month in 2002, while refinery production increased by 9.3 per cent as compared to 7.1 per cent a year ago. Except for crude oil production, all other sectors showed positive growth in the first nine months of the current fiscal. Crude output showed a negative 0.1 per cent growth as compared to 3.6 per cent growth in the corresponding period last year.Crude oil production at 24.85 million tonnes in April-December was marginally lower than 24.87 million tonnes in the same period in 2002. Petroleum refinery products were higher at 82.79 million tonnes as compared to 77.26 million tonnes while coal output improved to 249.3 million tonnes from 240.4 million tonnes in 2002.
