New Delhi, July 23 - The timely release of stimulus packages has helped the infrastructure sector post a good growth rate last month despite the economic slowdown, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma claimed here Thursday.

Referring to the 6.5 percent growth rate achieved by the six core infrastructure sectors in June, Sharma said: 'It's clear that the government's stimulus packages and the budgetary proposals have had a positive impact. It's showing results now.'

'In fact many sectors like coal, steel, cement has registered a double digit growth which is a very encouraging sign,' he told reporters on the sidelines of a business meet.

India's infrastructure output growth was 2.8 percent in May.

The minister said he was a 'little surprised' about the way markets reacted to the budget.