Govt spend to lead infrastructure sector, private investment to wait

The decision to set up an integrated oil major company is expected to boost economic activity

Huge allocation for the infrastructure segment was a welcome move but the Budget fell short of making any big bang announcements for the sector, say experts. This year again, government spending is likely to lead the investment cycle, as private investment is likely to wait.
 
Finance minister Arun Jaitley also gave affordable housing much-needed relief and granted it infrastructure status. The industry had been for long asking for these changes.
 
The total allocation for infrastructure development in 2017-18 stands at Rs 3,96,135 crore. “This magnitude of investment will spur a huge amount of economic activity across the country