Noida Toll Bridge sees revision in toll rates in FY09

Noida Toll Q1 net profit was up at Rs 7.32 crore versus Rs 6.55 crore. Its net sales were up at Rs 19.41 crore as compared to Rs 19.23 crore. Pradeep Puri, MD of Noida Toll Bridge expect profit margins to remain in the high 60 ranges because last year, they went from Rs 11 crore to Rs 27 crore PAT. If these trends continue, there will be a very significant improvement on PAT for the financial year ended March 2009, he said.

On revising toll rates at the Noida Toll Bridge Puri said, ”Our toll rates are linked entirely to the Consumer Price Index and on the rate of inflation. So given this kind of a trend which is 11% or 11.5% plus, we would see some revision in toll rates. But that would only be in effect from the next financial year.”

Excerpts from CNBC-TV18’s exclusive interview with Pradeep Puri:

Q: It’s been rather flat on the sales front, could you explain why?

A: It’s not flat actually because the total income for the same quarter last year was Rs 19.23 crore. That included other income of about Rs 4.85 crore which was part of the amalgamation scheme for section 391. The other income this year is just about Rs 26 lakh. So if you exclude the other income of about Rs 4.85 lakh, there is a virtually 300% jump on the PAT from something like Rs 1.79 crore to Rs 7.32 crore. Traditionally, in the kind of business we are, the first quarter contributes something like 22% to the topline and the PAT. If this trend continues, we are well on the way to a fairly significant increase in the topline for the year.

Q: What kind of traffic growth have you seen in this quarter and which is the quarter that actually comes in with the numbers?

A: The first two quarters are reasonably placid. We do about 20% to 22% and picking almost 25% to 26% in Q3 and Q4. The traffic growth has been fairly significant, we were doing something like 76,600 vehicles per day during the same quarter last year and the corresponding figure this year is almost 94,000 vehicles a day. Currently we are doing something in the region of almost 98,000. So, there is a strong buoyant growth in traffic, which reflects the economic activity, interest in this region, and the economic developments are taking place.

Q: What sort of revenue growth do you expect going forward and can we expect operating profit margins to remain in the high 60 ranges?

A: We can expect that because last year, looking back a couple of years, we went from Rs 11 crore to Rs 27 crore PAT. If these trends continue, there will be a very significant improvement on PAT for the financial year ended March 2009.

Q: What are your plans going forward for 200-acre landbank around Delhi?

A: We have a number of plans, which have been contingent upon the kinds of approvals we get from the government. It’s something we are talking about and fairly confident, which will reach some kind of conclusion fairly shortly.

Q: Are you looking at revising your toll rates at the Noida Toll Bridge?

A: Our toll rates are linked entirely to the Consumer Price Index and on the rate of inflation. So given this kind of a trend which is 11% or 11.5% plus, we would see some revision in toll rates. But that would only be in effect from the next financial year.