What will be the impact of Budget 2017 on infrastructure?
Focus on investment in infrastructure would fill in the gap created by subdued investment from the private sector. Coupled with lower interest rate regime, we expect the demand creation to pick up.
Sunil Kanoria, President, Assocham

From earthmoving and construction equipment industry’s perspective, we till now witnessed that the roads and highway sector leading the growth momentum, however to really create sustainable growth, other sectors needed attention. With this budget the focus has broadened and now includes sectors like railways, agriculture and real estate with emphasis on affordable housing.
Vipin Sondhi, Managing Director & CEO, JCB India

Reduction in the holding period for long term capital gain from 3 years to 2 years and advancing the base year for calculating the indexation for cost of acquisition from 1981 to 2001 is very much welcome and could provide a boost to the real estate sector. Significant emphasis on digitalisation to bring in transparency and to reduce corruption is a move in the right direction.
Anand Sundaresan, Chairman, Schwing Stetter Sales & Services India

Provisions for national highways has been increased by 12% in the infrastructure which will result in additional funds worth Rs 7,000 crore (a total of Rs 64,000 crore) in this sector.
Satish Parakh, MD, Ashoka Buildcon Infra Budget

ROADS

• Allocation for infra stands at Rs 396,135 cr in 2017-18
• Transportation sector including rail, roads, shipping, gets allocation of Rs 241,387 cr.
• Allocation for National Highways increased to Rs 64,000 cr in 2017-18.
• 2,000 km of coastal connectivity roads have been identified for construction and development.

AIRPORTS

• Select airports in tier-2 cities will be taken up for operation and maintenance in PPP model.

METRO

• New Metro rail policy to be announced with focus on innovative models of implementation and financing, as well as standardisation and indigenisation
• New Metro Rail Act will be enacted by rationalising existing laws to facilitate greater private participation and investment in construction and operation.

ENERGY

• To build strategic crude oil reserves at two more locations – Chandikhole in Odisha and Bikaner in Rajasthan, taking strategic reserve capacity to 15.33 million tonne
• Second phase of Solar Park development to be taken up for additional 20,000 megawatt capacity

The Union Budget 2017-18 has now set in motion a series of structured reforms process for the housing sector in the country. Assigning the infrastructure status to affordable housing gives the segment the necessary push for further growth.
Parveen Jain, President, NAREDCO

We welcome the budget as it is optimistic and puts forth a realistic roadmap which focuses on sustainable economic growth. The big advantages are investment of Rs 3.96 lakh crore in the infrastructure sector and Rs 2.41 lakh crore for transportation modes which would help in reducing the logistics costs and increase trade.
Abhishek Chakraborty, Executive Director, DTDC Express

Additional refinance of Rs 20,000 crore from NHB and lower interest rates resulting from increased liquidity in the banking sector would add to the funds for the sector at lower costs to the ultimate consumer.
Getamber Anand, President, CREDAI National

We expect this investment in infrastructure to be a significant enabler of economic growth. Technology will play a pivotal role here – in urban planning, construction management, project delivery – helping deliver more scalable, sustainable, and resilient civil infrastructure.
Pradeep Nair, MD, Autodesk India & SAARC

It is a balanced budget with a pro-growth slant. It provides momentum to key sectors such as infrastructure whilst enhancing the momentum to a cash less economy on a more inclusive basis.
Hari Sankaran, Vice Chairman & MD, IL & FS

Initiatives like increased fund corpus with NABARD, higher availability of credit to farmers, affordable housing getting infrastructure status, refinancing by National Housing Board, construction of 1 crore houses for the homeless, an augmentation in sanitation coverage and provision for safe drinking water in villages, higher spending on infrastructure and in rural areas, will give the requisite boost to the economic activity in irrigation for farming and housing.
Prakash Chhabria, Executive Chiarman, Finolex Industries Ltd

Infrastructure status for affordable housing is a landmark decision which will allow builders of budget housing to have access to cheaper sources of funds. The falling rate of interests will make home loans more attractive. All this revival measures will boost tower cranes and passenger hoists industry.
PV Ramdev, Managing Director, Everest Engineering

It appears to be a very balanced budget with great focus on job creation, demand generation, spending on infrastructure all across in rural sector, urban sector and a big way in housing.
Brij Nagpal, Executive Director, Finance, Luminous Technologies

A fiscally prudent budget aimed at fiscal consolidation which should lead to a stable economic growth if implemented in a planned manner. Announcements like a new metro rail policy, abolition of FIPB are forward looking which will provide necessary policy impetus to investor sentiments.
Rajeev Sharma, Head – Corp Services & Strategic Planning, Mitsubishi Electric India

Allocation for national highways has been stepped up to Rs 64,000 crore from Rs 57,676 crore. Higher investment in infrastructure is much needed and will spur economic growth.
Sachin Sandhir, Global MD – Emerging Business, RICS

A big infrastructure push along with a substantial hike in provisions for the National Highways in the Union Budget for 2017-18 is a major takeaway. A 25% higher capital expenditure is sure to give the economy a big growth momentum. Priority to doubling of farm income and rural development makes it a balanced and inclusive budget.
Arun Lakhani, CMD, Vishvaraj Infrastructure

Increased budget allocation to railways, focus on safety through the ‘Rail Sanraksha Kosh’ and enhancement of throughput are very welcome measures. Additional resources will come to the transport sector basis the announced measures of modifying the metro policy, PPP operation of tier two cities and through the ‘Multi Model Transport Approach’.
Tilak Raj Seth, CII Chairman, Rail Transportation & Equipment Division

A course correction in CVD and BCD structure on renewable energy and LED products and components will give the necessary impetus to local manufacturers, aligned to government’s ‘Make in India’ vision.
Dinesh Aggarwal, Joint Managing Director Anchor Electricals

It’s a dream budget for affordable housing. Infrastructure status will transform the sector much like deregulation did to telecom in the 1990’s. A 100 million houses across India is now a reality and XRBIA will lead the supply train.
Rahul Nahar, Founder, XRBIA Developers