Rao Inderjit calls Budget 2026 roadmap to developed India at Gurugram presser

Speaking in Gurugram, Rao Inderjit Singh said allocations for roads, railways, housing and energy have risen sharply, with focus on grassroots delivery and inclusive growth.

Published on: Feb 8, 2026, 04:04:03 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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Union minister of state and Gurugram MP Rao Inderjit Singh on Saturday described the Union Budget 2026 as a reflection of the country’s aspirations and a balanced road map towards a developed India.

Speaking in Gurugram, Rao Inderjit Singh said allocations for roads, railways, housing and energy have risen sharply, with focus on grassroots delivery and inclusive growth. (HT Photo)

During a press conference in Gurugram, the minister said the budget is not just a list of announcements, but a document of duty, clarity of thought and strong resolve, underscoring the government’s commitment to inclusive growth.

Singh said, “This is not a budget limited to declarations. It focuses on delivering opportunities, incentives and institutional support at the grassroots level.”

He added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the approach of combining heritage with development is reflected in the budget, with focused allocations for manufacturing, infrastructure, health, education, tourism, rural development, artificial intelligence and sports.

Highlighting infrastructure investment, the minister said the Centre has made historic increases in the sector over the past decade.

According to the minister, the budget for road transport and highways has increased from ₹31,302 crore in 2013–14 to ₹3,09,875 crore in 2026–27. Railway allocations have grown from ₹26,000 crore to ₹2,81,377 crore, while housing and urban affairs funding has risen from ₹1,486 crore to ₹85,822 crore. Energy sector allocations have increased from ₹10,000 crore to ₹29,997 crore.

Focusing on Haryana, Singh said central investment in transport and rail infrastructure in the state has increased over the past decade. He said the state’s annual average railway budget allocation has risen from about ₹315 crore during 2009–14 to ₹3,566 crore in 2026–27. He said railway projects worth over ₹12,000 crore are currently in progress in Haryana.

Under the Amrit Station Scheme, 34 stations in the state are being redeveloped with a proposed investment of ₹1,149 crore, with work already completed at two stations. Since 2014, about 850 km of new railway lines have been built in Haryana, and the state has achieved 100% railway electrification, he said.

The minister added that the construction of flyovers and underpasses, operation of Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat trains, and roll out of modern safety systems like Kavach demonstrate the Centre’s push to build future-ready transport infrastructure.

“These numbers show that the government sees infrastructure as the backbone of economic growth and is investing consistently,” he said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More

Union Budget 2026

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