Infrastructure growth slows down to 5.4 pc

Despite the government8217;s thrust on developmental schemes, infrastructure growth in the year 2003-04 slowed down marginally to 5.4 pc as compared to 5.6 pc in 2002-03. A number of economist had pointed out that high growth rate of the infrastructure sector is a must if the government wants to sustain even a 7 pc growth rate in the year 2004-05.

Core sector, which was sluggish in the first seven months of 2003-04 picked up since November and clocked 7.1 pc growth in March 2004 compared to 4.0 pc a year ago. According to figures released by the government, petroleum refinery sector logged the highest 8.2 pc growth last fiscal while crude petroleum output grew by merely 1.0 pc in 2003-04.