Infra may get Atmanirbhar nudge in Budget as govt looks to spur growth

Any significant increase beyond 10 per cent year-on-year (YoY) may be difficult over the next three to four years, given the limited fiscal space

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The biggest challenge for the infrastructure sector, especially in the power sector, is the financial stress arising from low demand or traffic and accumulated debt

Jyoti Mukul New Delhi

5 min read Last Updated : Jan 06 2021 | 06:05 AM IST

The forthcoming Union Budget is expected to build on the Atmanirbhar packages announced in 2020, and there is likely to be an emphasis on increased infrastructure spending on building roads and maritime and rail-linked economic development.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, for instance, has proposed to develop additional 60,000 km of national highways in the next five years, of which 2,500 km are expressways/access controlled highways, 9,000 km economic corridors, 2,000 km for coastal and port connectivity highways, and 2,000 km border road/strategic highways. The ministry also plans to improve connectivity to 100 tourist destinations and construct bypasses for 45 towns and cities.

The government would need to provide for at least a part of this, though it