AP industries laud budget’s focus on infra, health, agri
Initiatives like increased capex, entrepreneurship for women, and green hydrogen seen as positive
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Visakhapatnam: The interim budget presented by FM Nirmala Sitharaman in an election year has evoked a mixed reaction with many industrials and corporate executives describing it as forward looking and progressive, non-populace and visionary with a section voicing severe disappointment over failure to offer any major relief on tax front to individuals.
The interim Union Budget unveiled by the FM has met with positive reactions from key industry figures in Andhra Pradesh, who lauded its emphasis on critical sectors like healthcare, infrastructure and agriculture, several industry leaders remarked.
Initiatives for infrastructure boost like 11.1 per cent higher capex, increased role for private sector, entrepreneurship for women empowerment, emphasis on green economy and encouraging green hydrogen in a big way and electric vehicles, blue economy and sustainability are considered welcome features.
The journey towards Viksit Bharat to become a developed nation by 2047, Ayushman Bharat, modern farming, post-harvesting practices, Matsya Sampad, rural and mid-scale housing and Lakhpati Didi are the initiatives in the right direction to move towards a bigger than a $5 trillion economy,
“There is nothing to cheer in the budget for the middle class and working class as the FM has failed to announce any major change in income tax slabs. For employment generation also there is nothing that is welcome by the trade unions,” INTUC State vice-president Neerukonda Ramachandra Rao said.
CII Andhra Pradesh Chairman Dr M Lakshmi Prasad told Bizz Buzz that is progressive despite being an interim budget with vaccination campaign to tackle cervical cancer, creation of corpus with over Rs 1.10 lakh crore to encourage research and innovation and focus on skill development, green energy and biotechnology.
He said Andhra Pradesh is expected to get maximum benefit with the announcement to establish five aqua labs as the State has emerged as aqua capital of India. It may get two labs as AP accounts for highest seafood export with potential for quantum jump with encouragement to food processing industries and storage infrastructure, he opined.
After a post-budget interactive programme in Visakhapatnam, Dr V Murali Krishna commended the Centre’s targeted approach to address cervical cancer through vaccination programs for young girls. He emphasszed the significance of this “lifesaving initiative” in combating the high mortality rate associated with the disease. The announcements like setting up more medical colleges as well as streamlining maternal and child healthcare schemes are in right direction towards achieving a holistic commitment to health.
Grandhi Rajesh, CII zonal vice chairman, hailed the establishment of three major economic railway corridors. He said these corridors are designed for efficient transportation of essential resources, to act as a catalyst for industrial transformation. “These strategic investments, coupled with enhanced port connectivity and high-traffic density routes, are poised to significantly improve logistical efficiency and reduce costs,” he remarked.
