Odisha Minister Pratap Keshari Deb stated that the Interim Budget 2024–25 will serve as a trailer for the main film following the elections, prior to the introduction of the Union Interim Budget on Thursday.
“The expectations from Odisha are very high. But since it is an interim budget, how much they will cater to the demands of the state is to be seen. In the last couple of years, we have been the top investment destination in the case of industry in the country. We expect a lot of funding in the port sector, industrial corridor sector, and in the power sector. There has always been a huge demand for the infrastructural development of railways. Though (Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw) is a Rajya Sabha Member from Odisha, the amount of money that has been said in the budget is not being rounded properly in the field yet we have six districts unconnected by railways so there is a huge gap, and Odisha being a resource-rich state, infrastructure development is a necessity so we expect a lot of investment and money on the infrastructure sector,” said Pratap Keshari Deb.
“After the general elections, when the main budget happens, that will be a sequel to the interim budget and whatever comes in this budget will be a trailer for the main movie after the elections so we hope that the government of India looks into the expectations that I have mentioned,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the Interim Budget 2024, which will be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
PM Modi chaired the cabinet meeting ahead of the Interim Budget presentation in Parliament.
The Union Finance Minister will table the interim budget as the Lok Sabha polls are due to be held this year. This will be her sixth Budget as the Finance Minister and last in the second term of the Modi government.