Investments in India have increased by 37.4 per cent and 29 per cent in terms of projects in 2008-09.

As of March 31, 2009, there were 29,628 projects worth Rs.42,35,484 crore, according to a study on `Project Investments in India' for 2008 - 2009 conducted by ProjectsToday, an online database on project investments.

The study found the services and utilities (infrastructure) sector to be the growth driver with a share of 36.1 per cent in total investments.

However, holdups in execution of proposed projects pulled down the implementation ratio from 44.5 per cent in March 2008 to 42.1 per cent in March 2009.

Though the private sector had shown increased interest in participating in India's infrastructure building process, the share of the public sector in this sector remained high at 71 per cent, with the bulk of its investment focused on building roads, laying railway lines and putting in place systems for providing potable water.

Going forward Projects Today expects the public sector to continue its project investment activities during 2009-10 in the critical infrastructure sectors like roadways, water supply, electricity, irrigation and community services, the same cannot be vouched for the private sector, which appears to be waiting for some more concrete signs of revival.

During 2008-09, the country saw announcement of 12,583 new projects involving a total investment of Rs 8,62,634 crore. Compared to 7,112 new projects worth Rs 5,78,912 crore announced in the first half of 2008-09, only 5,421 new projects worth Rs 2,83,722 crore were announced in the second half. This indicated a sharp fall of 23.8 per cent in terms of number and a whopping 51 per cent in envisaged investment.

"Given this situation, the pace of project investment will remain moderate at least in the first half of 2009-10," Projects Today said.