Infrastructure gets Highest Ever ₹11.11 lakh cr Allocation in Budget
The budget introduced substantial financial packages for Andhra Pradesh and major projects for Bihar. For Andhra Pradesh, special financial support will be facilitated through multilateral agencies to meet the commitments of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. An initial allocation of ₹15,000 crore has been set for the current fiscal year, with additional funds to follow in future years. This is aimed at recognizing the state's need for capital and ensuring the fulfilment of promised commitments.
Finance minister announced the launch of Phase IV of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) to provide all-weather connectivity to 25,000 rural habitations, reflecting population growth. For Bihar, an industrial nod at Gaya on the Amritsar-Kolkata industrial corridor has been announced, expected to catalyze development in the eastern region. Key infrastructure projects include the development of the Patna-Purnea expressway, the Buxar-Bhagalpur highway, the Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Vaishali-Darbhanga route, and a new two-lane bridge over the Ganga in Buxar, with a total investment of ₹26,000 crore.
The budget also addresses irrigation and flood mitigation in Bihar through the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme and other sources, with financial support for projects estimated at ₹11,500 crore. This includes the Kosi-Mechi intra-state link and 20 other ongoing and new schemes, such as barrages, river pollution abatement, and irrigation projects. Additionally, financial assistance will be provided to Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim for flood management, landslides, and related projects.
