New Delhi: Infrastructure sector grew by 5.7 per cent during the first half of this fiscal compared to 5.4 per cent in April-September 2003-04.

The six core sectors -- crude petroleum, petroleum refinery, coal, steel, electricity and cement -- grew by 5.9 per cent in September 2004 as compared to 7.9 per cent a year ago.

Interestingly, crude petroleum production has shown output growth in each of the six months under review, touching nearly 17 million tonnes during April-September as against 16.3 million tonnes in the first six months of 2003-04 financial year.

Production of Petroleum refinery products rose to 58.8 million tonnes during April-September this year as against 54.8 million tonnes during the same period of last fiscal.

Coal production stood at 167.8 million tonnes as against 157.4 million tonnes during April-September 2003.

Power generation also registered an impressive growth during the period, according to official estimates.