PHDCCI for exclusive builders bank
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) has suggested setting up of an `exclusive builders bank' for providing easy access to funds for the housing sector as there is no institution in the country to provide long-term assistance to builders. "National housing bank does not lend money to builders and Hudco is very restrictive in lending money to builders. For banks,the building industry is not a priority sector," the chamber said in a statement. With the budget offering a lot of incentives for the housing sector, it is imperative that the builders have easy access to funds, the statement added.

Nod for pig iron plant in MP
An ambitious project to establish a pig iron plant in Dantewada district of Madhya Pradesh has been approved. Disclosing this to UNI in Jabalpur, state Chief Minister Digvijay Singh said that around 448 hectares of land had been made available for the purpose. He assured that work on the plant would commence soon. The project, which was to be implemented in the joint sector, would establish the plant on a pollution-free technology, he said adding that the 30 mw electricity to be produced would be given to the state electricity board.

Feasibility study on Bangalore circular rly by June
The current survey on the feasibility of setting up a circular railway for Bangalore city will be completed by the end of June, according toUnion civil aviation minister Ananth Kumar. Addressing a function organised to mark the inaugural direct flight of Indian Airlines between Bangalore and Kuala Lampur, in Bangalore on Saturday night, he said he had already held discussions with Karnataka chief minister JH Patel and the Union railway minister Nitish Kumar on the project.