Page 2 - Urban Infrastructure

GMR Warora Energy signs pact with lenders to recast Rs 3,000 cr loans

Loans would be repaid progressively over 15 years, giving the company additional time of about seven years to extinguish the liability

GMR Infra to raise Rs 6,000 crore for cities around three airports

Group power company to raise Rs 3,000 cr separately

Moving on the infrastructure agenda

Globally, municipal bonds are an established and major source of funding for urban infra. However, the municipal bond market is quite underdeveloped in India, notes Vinayak Chatterjee

WABAG secures Rs 1,187 cr contract from Bihar Urban Infra Development Corp

Firm achieves financial closure of its second HAM project and partners with PTC India Financial Services

Lack of uniform ICT solutions a risk for smart cities, says Trai

The regulator is of the view that lack of uniform solution can lead to proprietary issues and prevent integration for a seamless digital revolution in the urban infrastructure.

Letters: Mending roads

Urban infrastructure across India has emerged as a major concern. The main reason behind this the state governments' bidding process for road construction. According to rules, the lowest bidder gets the contract but the winner also does shabby work. The "classic" example is that of roads in Pune and Mumbai. Recently, we have noted in the print media that Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has "blacklisted" five contractors for laying poor quality roads. It is high time the government adopted the public-private partnership mode for urban infrastructure, a practice followed the world over. It will be also desirable if municipal corporations raise adequate funds by issuing bonds, which will help develop quality roads.Satish Murdeshwar PuneLetters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:The Editor, Business StandardNehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar MargNew Delhi 110 002Fax: (011) 23720201E-mail: letters@bsmail.inAll letters must have a postal address and telephone number