BS Reporters &Amp; Agencies In New Delhi

Stories by BS Reporters &Amp; Agencies In New Delhi

Delhi Metro seeks ban on Gammon

Delhi Metro seeks ban on Gammon

Rediff.com   29 Jul 2009

Tuesday's move, announced at a press conference in the capital, comes a little over a month after an accident killed six workers at a metro construction site on July 12. The accident, the latest in a series over the past year, raised public outrage and prompted Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's widely respected chief E Sreedharan to submit his resignation, which the state government declined to accept.

Two-thirds of govt borrowing in H1

Two-thirds of govt borrowing in H1

Rediff.com   17 Jul 2009

The government intends to borrow Rs 1,10,000 crore over the next 75 days, which will push up its first-half borrowings by Rs 58,000 crore from the earlier planned level.This means that the government will now borrow Rs 2,99,000 crore by the end of September through bond issues, which would account for around two-thirds of the Rs 4,51,000 crore the Centre proposes to borrow during the current financial year.

Anil Ambani group, Spielberg ink $825 mn deal

Anil Ambani group, Spielberg ink $825 mn deal

Rediff.com   16 Jul 2009

Anil Ambani's Reliance ADA Group formalised its association with DreamWorks Studios promoted by Hollywood director Steven Spielberg and his partner Stacey Snider.

Cold chains: Retailers divided over tax

Cold chains: Retailers divided over tax

Rediff.com   8 Jul 2009

While some like RPG's Spencer's and Wadhawan group's Spinach say it will encourage them to invest more in cold chains, others such as Aditya Birla Retail and Future Group said the announcement has come too late and helps fresh produce and chilled product suppliers more than retailers.

Some car, LCD TV firms cut prices

Some car, LCD TV firms cut prices

Rediff.com   8 Jul 2009

Excise duty cut of Rs 6,000 on big cars to be passed to customers; LCDs cheaper by Rs 3,500.

Govt allows banks to issue zero-coupon bonds

Govt allows banks to issue zero-coupon bonds

Rediff.com   8 Jul 2009

The government has permitted scheduled banks, including state-owned ones, to issue "zero-coupon bonds" to meet long-term capital requirements, according to the Budget documents.

Tech M now has 42% stake in Satyam

Tech M now has 42% stake in Satyam

Rediff.com   2 Jul 2009

On the conclusion of the mandatory open offer to shareholders of Satyam Computers, the new owner, Tech Mahindra, has a little over 42 per cent stake in the company, as against the original plan of acquiring a total of 51 per cent of the equity.

Big TV, Carlyle in talks to raise $50-100 mn

Big TV, Carlyle in talks to raise $50-100 mn

Rediff.com   2 Jul 2009

Big TV is also in talks with other private equity majors, though these are at preliminary stages, to raise funds. The exact quantum of funding to be raised from Carlyle would depend on the 'promises' by players, he said. The company is also in discussions with major players like The Blackstone Group, Providence and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts for raising funds.

What Nilekani, and the new ID system, will do

What Nilekani, and the new ID system, will do

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2009

Nandan Nilekani will have the responsibility to lay down plans and policies to implement the Unique Identity card scheme and shall own and operate the UID database. The authority was notified on January 28 this year as an attached office under the aegis of the Planning Commission with an initial core team of 115 officials and staff. The scheme will be implemented in three years.

Our pay isn't the problem: AI staff unions

Our pay isn't the problem: AI staff unions

Rediff.com   24 Jun 2009

When National Aviation Company of India's wage bill is described as impossible to sustain, the unions say it is due in large part to the salaries paid to the same brass which wants pay cuts, apart from other creamy layers such as pilots and engineers, who get quite a bit through productivity-linked incentives. Hence, say the unions, it is these sections which need to take the hit in salaries, not their members.

Banga quits Citi to join MasterCard

Banga quits Citi to join MasterCard

Rediff.com   22 Jun 2009

Banga's exit is being seen as a blow to Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit, who said in a speech this week that the bank would look abroad for growth as the US economy slows. At MasterCard, he will be responsible for key business operations, including customer relationships globally, products, services, marketing, technology and operations.

Mobile operators differ on hike in 3G base price

Mobile operators differ on hike in 3G base price

Rediff.com   20 Jun 2009

Mobile operators are divided on the consensus reached in the government to increase the base price for 3G auctioning to Rs 4,040 crore. Earlier, the base price for auctioning ranged from as low as Rs 1,020 crore to Rs 2,040 crore.

India's IT sector banking on tax benefit extension

India's IT sector banking on tax benefit extension

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2009

Extending STPI tax benefits beyond 2010 (it was extended by a year in 2009) has been a long-standing demand of the software sector.

Rural growth tops Indian FMCGs' Budget wish-list

Rural growth tops Indian FMCGs' Budget wish-list

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2009

With the last two stimulus packages working wonders for the packaged goods industry, players in the sector are now rooting for one more round of fiscal incentives to further boost demand in the domestic rural markets and be competitive overseas.

It's business as usual for GM India

It's business as usual for GM India

Rediff.com   16 Jun 2009

"Just media hype," said a relieved Sachin Kumar, executive of the Auto Vikas showroom of General Motors India in West Delhi's Moti Nagar. "There were some showroom queries on the first two days, but it died down."

After DLF, now Rahejas want to surrender SEZ

After DLF, now Rahejas want to surrender SEZ

Rediff.com   15 Jun 2009

Real estate developer K Raheja Universal Private Ltd wants to scrap one of their notified special economic zones and also surrender a part of another zone, citing lack of demand from the information technology sector.

Revised numbers reason for better GDP figure

Revised numbers reason for better GDP figure

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2009

CSO revised downwards the construction sector numbers, which account for nearly 9 per cent of India's GDP, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008. This revision to 6.9 per cent as against the initial estimate of 12.6 per cent leads to 40 basis point upside to GDP growth. For agriculture, CSO revised the growth numbers to 2.2 per cent as against the initial estimate of 3.5 per cent. This led to higher agriculture growth of 2.7 per cent in January-March 2009.

PMO asks Montek, other Plan panel members to stay

PMO asks Montek, other Plan panel members to stay

Rediff.com   4 Jun 2009

Government sources in the PMO said Montek Singh Ahluwalia and other panel members will continue till the next Planning Commission is constituted by the prime minister. The apex panel plays a crucial role in the budgetary process. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is likely to present the Budget in the first week of July. Though the recommendations of the Plan panel are not legally binding, the inputs are crucial in dealing with the planned expenditure by the government.

Nokia-Siemens takes BSNL to court over bid

Nokia-Siemens takes BSNL to court over bid

Rediff.com   22 May 2009

Telecom equipment vendor Nokia-Siemens filed a case in the Delhi High Court today against its disqualification on technical grounds as a bidder for state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd's tender for 94 million lines, one of the world's largest telecom contracts worth over Rs 50,000 crore.

Liquidity starts seeping back into India Inc

Liquidity starts seeping back into India Inc

Rediff.com   21 May 2009

After a near six-month drought, India Inc is finding some takers for debt and equity issues. Though private and the foreign banks are yet to step up lending in a big way, public sector banks have started financing projects.