Trade, industry's budget expectations: The trade and industry are pinning their hopes on finance minister Yashwant Sinha for an investment and savings-oriented budget to revive business confidence in the wake of the recent slowdown in the economy and sanctions imposed on India after the nuclear tests. Industry is also expecting rationalisation of indirect taxes to counter the threat of cheaper imports, innovative investment and savings schemes and fiscal consolidation to bringing about alower-interest regime.

DoT employee associations, unions oppose corporatisation move: Several employees' associations and unions in the department of telecommunications (DoT) have opposed government plans to corporatise the department saying the "untimely move" will hit revenue and developmental activities especially in rural India. They, however, welcomed "structural changes." ITSA president AK Sinha and general secretary NK Chokker said the change over to corporate structure would invite a burden of Rs 10,000 crore towards corporate tax annually, which is three-fourths of DoT's revenue.

NIIT expansion plans: NIIT Ltd has drawn up expansion plans for meeting the rapidly growing information technology (IT) requirements in Gujarat. Company head (western India geography) Abhas Kumar said an expansion of business activities leading to a manifold increase in turnover is planned. Some of the initiatives taken are the launches, in Ahmedabad of the executive training centre (ETC), the Microsoftauthorised technical education centre (MS-ATEC), the authorised prometric testing centre (APTC), and several career-education centres in Gujarat.

Mumbai rail projects: Work on various rail projects in Mumbai would start even if the World Bank suspends its aid as part of the economic sanctions against India, union minister of state for railways Ram Naik said in Sunday. Naik said the railway budget has already allotted Rs 150 crore for the city, to ensure that the projects take off soon.