Budget 2018 to focus on agriculture and infrastructure development

Mumbai, January 20: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that the forthcoming budget will see priorities in agriculture and infrastructure investment as country targets to achieve double-digit growth in due course.

We have increased annual budget for road project from Rs 40,000 crore to Rs 1,30,000 crore annually this year and targeting Rs 1,50,000 crore next year. The road construction would further gather momentum with average addition of 28 km per day by March this year and 40 km per day by next year, he added.

He further said “our economy is the fastest growing in the world and the credibility has increased. Global investors and stakeholders have tremendous expectations and confidence on our country.”

After demonetisation and GST, the situation is really changing. Our direct tax collection for this year has gone up by 18 per cent compared to last year, and the government borrowings have come down by Rs 30,000 crore as anticipated, keeping out fiscal deficit under control," Gadkari said.

"The growth figure for last quarter has again gone up over 7 per cent and our target is double digit, which may take some time. But the way in which the economy is moving I am confident that in due course of time, we will achieve this," he added.