New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS): Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Union Budget 2026-27 emphasizes a significant infrastructure development push, with a proposed public capital expenditure increase to Rs 12.2 lakh crore, up from Rs 11.2 lakh crore.
The focus is on cities with populations over five lakh, promoting growth in Tier-2 and Tier-3 urban centers to alleviate pressure on major metros. Notably, the budget introduces an “Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund” to encourage private investment by mitigating risks for lenders.
Key infrastructure projects include a new freight corridor from Dankuni to Surat and the operationalization of 20 new national waterways, starting with National Waterway-5 in Odisha, enhancing cargo transport across India.
The overall strategy aims to support the vision of Viksit Bharat through integrated multimodal connectivity and urban-rural linkages.
