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Transporters at JNPT strike over toll tax
Mumbai: The Jawaharlal Nehru Port seems headed for an indefinite strike. Negotiations between the port authorities and transporters have not yield results and the transporters have announced a strike from tomorrow.

The transporters are demanding removal of the toll tax on NH-4B. The port authorities say this is beyond their jurisdiction. The container operators have been referred to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which holds 50-per cent equity in the Mumbai-JNPT Road Corporation.

Currently, the toll is collected by the Mumbai-based PBA Infrastructure. The one-way toll on NH-4B is pegged at Rs130 and transporters complain that they have to pay Rs230 per trip, and another Rs230 if they have to drop off the empty container as the container yards are accessible only through NH-4B.

The trucks cannot stay back as parking is allowed only in Kalamboli.

The NH-4B was inaugurated in July this year. Since then, the container operators have been fighting over the toll. They say that it is not correct to charge toll on an approach road to the port.

JNPT authorities have appealed to the transporters to postpone the strike and continue negotiations and have assured them that it would take up with the NHAI.
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Government to impose 50-per cent cap on global content in FM radio
New Delhi: The government plans to limit the programming content developed outside India for FM radio at 50 per cent of the total.

FM radio stations will also not be allowed to lease channels or broadcast services in whole or in part to outside agencies thus preventing companies to outsource programming, marketing and advertisement spot sale to an outside agency.

Apart from this, licence holders will have to start operations within 18 months of receiving the government permission, or else, they can face getting debarred from operating in their circle for five years.

Private radio stations may also be required to dedicate up to an hour every day to public interest announcements.
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FDI inflows may exceed target
New Delhi: For the first time, the country is expected to attract $5-billion foreign direct investment (FDI) through the equity component alone during 2005-06.

This may mean that overall FDI inflows may easily cross the estimated $7 billion during the year.

The equity component of FDI inflows for 2004-05 has not yet been compiled, since the final FDI data including details of the reinvested earnings are still being compiled by the RBI.

Traditionally, the equity component of FDI inflows in India has been around 50-55 per cent of the total inflows.

The World Investment Report 2005 has identified India and China as the two most attractive investment destination among transnational corporations.

According to the preliminary data available with the FIPB on the basis of reports filed by companies, shows that the top 25 inflow cases received during April-July 2005 has already touched $1 billion.

Since most of the sectors do not require FIPB clearance and are on the automatic route, the inflows are thought to be higher once the FIPB data is collated along with the data compiled with the RBI.
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