Income from operations grew by 66 per cent while the non-operating income showed a marginal change. Profit before tax for the half year stood at Rs 43 crore, up by 107 per cent over Rs 20.8 crore recorded in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Civil works at the company's new project at Verna, Goa will add to the capacity of its jelly filled telephone cables and is nearing completion. Installation of machinery and equipment have commenced and trial production is slated towards end of December 1999. The expansion of its co-axial and LAN cable manufacturing facility have gathered momentum and ``off the shelf'' deliveries are expected soon.