Sitharaman highlights infra projects bridging rural urban divide in Budget 2019-20

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Friday announced a slew of steps to scale up India's infrastructure including augmenting 1,25,000 km of rural roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana at a cost of Rs 80,250 crore and and creating a national highways grid.

Tabling the Modi 2.0 government's maiden budget in Parliament, Sitharaman said that steps were taken to boost infrastructure in sectors like roads, waterways, metro and rail. She also emphasised on the measures for a self-reliant aviation industry.

"We need to invest in infra, digital economy and job creation in small and medium enterprises...Schemes such as Bharatmala, Sagarmala and Udaan are bridging rural urban divide and improving our transport infrastructure," Sitharaman said presenting the full Budget for 2019-20.

In the second phase of Bharatmala project, states will be helped to develop roadways, she said.

The finance minister said comprehensive restructuring of National Highways Programme is on the anvil to ensure creation of a national highways grid of desirable capacity.

"Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana Phase 3 envisages to upgrade 1.25 lakh km of road length at an estimated cost of Rs 80,250 crore," she said.

About movement of cargo through waterways, she said cargo movement on Ganga will increase four times in the coming four years.

On electric vehicles, She said the government has already approved Rs 10,000 crore for FAME II scheme on April 1, 2019 to encourage faster adoption of electric vehicles by providing right incentives and charging infrastructure.

Announcing various infrastructure projects, the minister said: "I wish to propose a number of initiatives as part of kick-starting the virtuous cycle of domestic and foreign investment."
Sitharaman said: "I propose to make a blueprint available for developing gas grids, water grids and regional airports."