Cost control measures despite higher fuel and diesel price as compared to the same quarter of the previous year, had shown EBIDTA at a significant high (over 50 per cent in April-June quarter) of Rs 245 cr (Rs 162 crore in the same quarter of the previous year.). This, after a gap of 11 quarters. The company’s capacity utilisation during the quarter was 77 per cent.

“The business of cement will be good… it is poised to be like in 2005-06, when we saw three to four years of a golden period,” he said, noting that rationalisation of costs, improved selling price and thrust on infra projects by the government, were the reasons behind the exuberance and positive sentiments.

His response to the perceived slowdown in the economy was “essentials have not got affected.” Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra are states, where the government spends on infra is pronounced. Except for the post-election glitch in AP, states in north, west and south, have shown good pick up in demand, Srinivasan said, adding recovery is expected in August and September.

While infrastructure projects were the primary consumption and growth drivers, construction activity of individual homes and building of houses for economically-weaker sections of the society had gone up.