Infrastructure sector growth highest in 3 months at 5%

Infrastructure sector recorded a growth rate of 5 % in September -- the highest in three months -- on account of healthy performance by cement, steel and refinery products.

The growth rate of the eight infrastructure sectors - coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity - in September 2015 was 3.7 %. The core sectors, which contribute 38 % to the total industrial production, had expanded by 3.2 % in August. As per the official data released on Monday, the cumulative growth of the sector during April-September period of the fiscal was 4.6 % against 2.6 % in the same period last fiscal.

Production of cement, steel and refinery products grew by 5.5 %, 16.3 % and 9.3 % respectively in September this year. Growth in fertiliser and electricity generation fell to 2 % and 2.2% in September 2016, from 18.3 % and 11.4 % respectively in September 2015. Production of coal, crude oil and natural gas, however, contracted by 5.8 %, 4.1 % and 5.5 % during the month under review.