Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday unveiled a batch of projects that are expected to improve infrastructure and connectivity in the election-bound states of Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala but the Union Budget had no mega allocations or big-ticket announcements aimed at these high-stakes elections.
The minister also announced the setting up of a new National Institute of Design to enhance design education and development (PTI).This was in stark contrast to the cost of overs ₹60,000 crore for various projects targeted at Bihar in the Union Budget last year.
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There was no specific mention of West Bengal in the finance minister’s speech but the state is expected to benefit from allocations under Purvodaya, which is proposed to develop an integrated East Coast Industrial Corridor with a well-connected node at Durgapur; A freight corridor connecting Dankuni in the east with Surat in the west and a high-speed rail corridor on the Varanasi-Siliguri route.
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“I propose an integrated East Coast Industrial Corridor with a well-connected node at Durgapur, development of 5 tourist destinations in five eastern states and provision of 4,000 e-buses,” the minister said.
Bengal is one of the five states included in the Purvodaya Comprehensive Development Plan for the growth of the eastern states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
Sitharaman did not mention Puducherry in his speech. But according to PTI, Union Territories have been allocated ₹3,517.88 crore as part of the annual budget allocation under the larger Home Ministry budget.
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Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy hailed the budget as “most progressive and development-oriented”, PTI reported.
The minister also announced the setting up of a new National Institute of Design to encourage design education and development in the eastern region of India.
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Tamil Nadu and Kerala stand to receive the support the minister announced for high-value agricultural products such as coconut, cashew and cocoa; and steps to enhance wildlife tourism through bird watching trails.
In his budget speech, the finance minister announced that the government proposed to support the mineral-rich states of Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to establish dedicated rare earth corridors to promote mining, processing, research and manufacturing.
“To increase domestic chemical production and reduce import dependency, we will launch a scheme to support states in setting up three dedicated chemical parks through a challenge route through a cluster-based plug-and-play model,” he said.
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Noting that India has the potential and scope to offer world-class trekking and hiking experiences, he announced the development of an environmentally sustainable mountain trail at Podhigai Malai on the border of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Tamil Nadu will also get turtle trails and dedicated bird watching trails.
To be sure, trekking and hiking trails and turtle trails will also be supported in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Araku Valley of the Eastern Ghats, Odisha and Karnataka.
Assam –– which will benefit from development projects for Buddhist Circuits proposed in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura –– will also get help for upgradation of NIMHANS at Tezpur.
