Watch out for the year ahead!

Larsen, Punj had disappointing numbers and cited reasons that in reality, they are in essence facing a lot of hurdles -- the blamelist is obvious. The government for doing away with construction majors and joining hands with second-tier construction companies for infrastructure projects.

It's a pity that this is happening, we've already seen engineering marvels around us with L&T and Punj Lloyd [for e.g. the NH4 stretch at Karnataka and Maharashtra border -- http://www.nhai.org/nh4.asp] leading it, but they are not being awarded projects of future by GoI. Punj Lloyd is at times regarded as the "next Larsen". But, the point is: Why is the government acting like slacker? The most obvious of the answers is corruption. If they hand over the projects to the construction giants, they won't be able to fill their bellies. If they go with local construction companies, they both can fill up their bellies. This is disheartening -- if our country wants to see the infra boom in reality, the government should be serious and more diligent at awarding projects as well. Lest, Delhi-metro like mishaps will continue to happen, for they've been poorly built.

Alongside construction, the raw materials -- steel [may it be TISCO, SAIL or JSW] and cement [Grasim, Ultratech] are something which I've always suggested to buy in over the past year. The key remains in the execution of the projects like NHAI's planned green-field projects (~11,000 km stretch cement roads planned) promised by Kamalnath happen in reality over days and years to come.

The budget is the pivot for Feb. But, I'm certainly not optimistic, as it has always been the case, our FM Pranob will come up with a "aam aadmi" mask and shall say "this budget is for common peeepul". Food prices are soaring and our ministers are shrugging off the critics, the inflation is blowing out of proportions. I don't know what is actually being done on ground in the name of NREGA. The "peepul" who ultimately suffer is "aam aadmi".

A single statement from Sonia-jee has devastated the whole of Andhra. It's been ripped apart, deprived of the amenities after many private sector companies decided to make a move-out; which still continues to happen. This might prove costly for the GDP numbers that we seem to be overly bullish on. Sarcastically, I feel I should also ask for my own state now. :P