Union Budget 2026: No big-ticket announcements, but poll-bound states part of new initiatives | India News – The Times of India

NEW DELHI: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman might not have opened the purse strings for poll-bound states in Union Budget 2026 but she made them a part of many bold growth initiatives just like the uncommon earth hall, devoted freight passage and the proposed excessive-velocity rail networks.Meeting elections are scheduled in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry later this 12 months. With the BJP going all out to wrest Bengal from Mamata’s Trinamool Congress and make inroads in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, there have been expectations that Nirmala Sitharaman would announce a slew of proposals with these states in focus like many instances prior to now. Whereas the Budget didn’t make big-ticket state-particular bulletins, there was one thing to cheer for all of the poll-bound states.

So, whereas Tamil Nadu acquired a excessive-velocity rail hyperlink for Chennai, ecologically sustainable mountain path in Podhigai Malai within the Western Ghats and a uncommon earth hall within the Budget, poll-bound Bengal featured in lots of infrastructure, logistics, rail and tourism initiatives. Kerala discovered point out within the context of uncommon earths and the turtle path.West BengalA key announcement for West Bengal was the proposal to develop a new devoted freight hall from Dankuni in West Bengal to Surat in Gujarat, aimed toward selling environmentally sustainable and environment friendly motion of cargo. The hall is predicted to considerably scale back logistics prices for industries in jap India, and enhance connectivity between the jap and western markets.In one other main push, Sitharaman mentioned the Centre will develop an Built-in East Coast Industrial Hall, with a nicely-related industrial node at Durgapur, a key manufacturing hub in West Bengal. The challenge is predicted to strengthen the state’s position within the Centre’s ‘Purvodaya’ imaginative and prescient for accelerating industrial development in jap India.The Budget additionally proposed the creation of 5 tourism locations throughout the 5 ‘Purvodaya’ states, together with West Bengal, to spice up employment and regional growth. To assist sustainable city mobility in these areas, the federal government additionally mentioned it would make a provision for 4,000 electrical buses.To spice up rail connectivity, Sitharaman introduced plans to develop seven excessive-velocity rail corridors throughout the nation, with one of the proposed routes linking Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Siliguri in northern West Bengal. The hall is predicted to considerably reduce journey time, and improve financial and strategic integration of north Bengal with the remaining of the nation.West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee described the Union Budget for 2026-27 as a “directionless and visionless Humpty Dumpty”, claiming that it had nothing to supply to the frequent man and her state. “This Budget is directionless, visionless, actionless and anti-individuals. It’s also anti-girls, anti-farmer, anti-schooling and towards the SC, ST and OBC… There may be nothing on supply for Bengal… within the Humpty Dumpty finances,” she mentioned.“For West Bengal, what have they given (within the Budget)? Nothing. They speak massive, but supply nothing,” Mamata added.Tamil NaduTamil Nadu acquired a excessive-velocity rail hyperlink for Chennai, ecologically sustainable mountain path in Podhigai Malai within the Western Ghats and a uncommon earth hall. Hen watching trails alongside the Pulikat lake and growth of the archaeological website of Adichanallur right into a vibrant, experiential cultural locations have been among the many different bulletins for the poll-bound state.In Adichanallur, excavated landscapes might be opened to the general public by curated walkways. Immersive storytelling abilities and applied sciences might be launched to assist conservation labs, interpretation centres, and guides.Sitharaman additionally introduced that Hyderabad-Chennai and Chennai-Bengaluru might be part of the seven excessive-velocity rail corridors between cities as development connectors. Tamil Nadu can also be one of the important thing states that might be part of the devoted uncommon earth hall to advertise mining, processing, analysis and manufacturing. The Centre had in November 2025 launched a scheme for Uncommon Earth Everlasting Magnets. The proposed hall is an extension of that effort.India has the potential and alternative to supply world-class trekking and mountaineering expertise. Ecologically sustainable mountain path might be developed in Podhigai Malai within the Western Ghats. Additionally, hen watching trails might be developed alongside the Pulikat lake which covers each Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced in her speech.Tamil Nadu, which is residence to 1000’s of temples and pilgrimage centres like Rameswaram and has a number of temple-cities together with Madurai, Kancheepuram and Kumbakonam, may even profit from the initiatives introduced within the Budget.KeralaKerala might be part of “uncommon earth corridors” and “Turtle Trails” introduced in Budget 2026. The “Turtle Trails” can be established alongside key nesting websites in coastal areas aimed toward conservation and eco-tourism. The devoted Uncommon Earth Corridors purpose to spice up mining, processing, analysis and manufacturing within the sector.The state discovered little else to cheer, with a number of lengthy-anticipated initiatives lacking from Centre’s plans. The state was not included within the proposed excessive-velocity rail corridors, whereas neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana featured within the community growth.Kerala’s ruling Left Democratic Entrance (LDF) and the Opposition United Democratic Entrance (UDF) criticised Budget 2026, saying it left the state largely sidelined.Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor mentioned “There was a reference to an All India Institute of Ayurveda being established, but not any indication as to the place. Kerala would think about that, as a significant centre of Ayurveda, it ought to be a logical place, but they have not promised us that.” “Even when coconuts and cashews have been talked about, the state wasn’t talked about. So, I’m assuming that some of these subheadings she spoke about will translate into concrete initiatives and programmes for us….but the place particulars got here, we had purpose for disappointment, for instance, ship restore for inland waterways, they’re parking them in Varanasi and Patna regardless of Kerala having so many rivers and inland waterways,” he added.AssamAssam hopes to profit from the Union Budget’s thrust on infrastructure growth of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, in addition to the announcement of Buddhist Circuits. The concentrate on MSMEs might be advantageous for the poll-bound state, which has a big quantity of small and medium enterprises, mentioned officers.The proposal for organising a Buddhist Circuit within the area, together with Assam, additionally options within the Union Budget for 2026-27. The scheme will cowl preservation of temples and monasteries, pilgrimage interpretation facilities, connectivity and pilgrim facilities.“The North-Jap Area is a civilisational confluence of Theravada and Mahayana/Vajrayana traditions. I suggest to launch a scheme for growth of Buddhist Circuits in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura,” Sitharaman mentioned.The Budget additionally proposes creation of 5 tourism locations within the 5 ‘Purvodaya’ states and proposes to improve the Nationwide Psychological Well being Institutes in Tezpur as a Regional Apex Establishment.In a collection of X posts, Assam chief minsiter Himanta Biswa Sarma listed out a number of factors from the Union Budget and asserted that the state goes to realize in lots of points.“The announcement of Self-Assist Marts (SHE-Marts) will additional strengthen Assam’s efforts in direction of constructing a strong ecosystem of Lakhpati Didis beneath #MMUA,” Sarma mentioned.The chief minister maintained that the emphasis on skilling within the Budget aligns with Assam’s imaginative and prescient to emerge as a trusted hub for expert professionals in healthcare, AI and different allied sectors. “This Budget supplies Rs 2 lakh crore beneath the Particular Help to States for Capital Funding, which is able to speed up infrastructure actions in Assam,” he added.