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In order to give a push to infrastructure development in the country and solve the bottlenecks in the way, the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure (CCI) has set strict monitoring targets for all core projects. The 12-member CCI is headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Indian infrastructure projects are known for long delays and cost overruns. According to the government’s own estimates, more than 50% of the infrastructure projects currently being undertaken in the country are suffering from substantial delays. Data available with the ministry of statistics and programme implementation shows that 423 of the 925 projects going on at various parts of the nation have crossed their deadlines.

Read moreGovernment to monitor infra projects closely

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net sellers of Rs 690.53 crore (provisional) in the cash segment on Wednesday, as per information posted on the BSE website. While FIIs made gross purchases of Rs 1,857.12 crore, their gross sales amounted to Rs 2,547.65 crore.

Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net sellers of Rs 23.90 crore (provisional) on the same day. While DIIs made gross purchases of Rs 1,083.12 crore, their gross sales stood at Rs 1,107.02 crore.

Read moreFIIs net sellers of Rs 691 cr (prov) in the cash segment on Wednesday

Civil aviation minister Praful Patel has said that Airports Authority of India (AAI) would be floated as a joint stock company by amendments in order to raise funds from market for carrying out modernisation of a large number of major airports across the country with an objective of listing it in the stock market.

The ministry would soon amend the AAI Act to corporatize the the government entity to help its financial future.

Read moreAAI to become a listed company: Praful Patel

In order to reduce the cost of transportation, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is mulling a proposal to scrap the 30-35% premium on toll charged on highways bypassing cities.

The move has come in the wake of instances of consumers using alternative routes to save costs. The apex body has also suggested doing away with the extra toll that private concessionaires charge for roads on which they have spent between Rs 50 crore and Rs 100 crore. No toll is charged on roads costing less than Rs 50 crore to upgrade or construct as of now.

Read moreNHAI mulls cutting toll tax by 30-35%

Guarseed and gum prices, which have seen a sharp surge in the past fortnight, are set to gain further as guar production is likely to be sharply lower on choppy rains in the growing areas.

Guarseed prices have gained 5% in the last fortnight, while the gum prices have increased 15%. On Tuesday, guarseed for September delivery was quoted at Rs 2,196 a quintal against Rs 2,080 on July 21. Guargum September contracts closed at Rs 5,126 a quintal against Rs 4,443 during the same period.

Read moreScanty Rains – Guarseed, gum prices edge higher

Reliance Infrastructure (R-Infra), part of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, has bagged the 32 km Mumbai Metro-II project connecting Charkop to Mankhurd via Bandra. The project cost is pegged at Rs 11,000 crore and is slated to be completed by 2015.

The project is on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model with a concession period of 35 years and incorporates an extension clause of another ten years. The link would have 27 stations on the way.

Read moreReliance Infra bags Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd metro segment