The Centre has unveiled investments across infra and agricultural welfare, aimed at driving economic growth
NEW DELHI: During the recent Cabinet meeting, key decisions were made across multiple sectors, forming a crucial component of the “Viksit Bharat” vision. These initiatives are set to bring transformative changes to both urban and rural areas. The Government of India has unveiled substantial investments exceeding Rs 10 lakh crore across infrastructure and agricultural welfare, aimed at driving economic growth, enhancing connectivity, and improving the livelihoods of farmers nationwide.
A centrepiece of the announcements is the Shillong-Silchar 4-lane highway corridor, with an investment of Rs 22,864 crore. Spanning 166.8 km, this critical project aims to significantly strengthen connectivity between Meghalaya and Assam. Constructed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode, the corridor will feature 19 major bridges, 153 minor bridges, 326 culverts, 22 underpasses, 26 overpasses, and 34 viaducts totalling 9 km—ensuring seamless and efficient transit across challenging terrain.
Silchar, a vital gateway to northeastern states such as Mizoram, Tripura, and Manipur, along with Assam’s Barak Valley, is expected to gain immensely through reduced travel time and improved trade logistics. The Guwahati-Shillong-Silchar route, being the shortest and most direct, is likely to become the preferred corridor for movement of goods and people across the Northeast. This corridor is part of National Highway-6 (NH-6), envisioned as a connectivity backbone for the region, unlocking economic opportunities and promoting regional integration.
Alongside the Shillong-Silchar project, the Cabinet has sanctioned significant investments across multiple infrastructure sectors to maintain the nation’s development momentum. In aviation, upgrades have been approved for Bagdogra, Bihta, and Varanasi airports at a total cost of Rs 5,832 crore. In the port sector, a major greenfield port will be established at Vadhavan, near Dahanu in Maharashtra, with an investment of Rs 76,220 crore.
In the highways sector, eight national high-speed road projects spanning 936 km have been approved, alongside initiatives under the PM Gram Sadak Yojana and road developments in the border areas of Punjab and Rajasthan. Key corridor projects include a six-lane highway connecting JNPT, as well as four-lane highways on the Patna-Arrah-Sasaram and Shillong-Silchar routes. Altogether, these projects represent a substantial investment of Rs 1,58,141 crore.
The railway sector is set for a major boost with the approval of 22 new projects, including 1,333 km of new railway lines and 1,536 km of multi-tracking, along with the construction of a new bridge in Varanasi. These developments involve a total investment of Rs 86,507 crore. In the urban transport sector, metro systems will be expanded in Bengaluru (two corridors covering 44.65 km), Thane (a 29 km Ring Metro Rail Project), and Pune (Phase I spanning 5.46 km). Additionally, work will continue on Chennai Metro Phase 2 and Delhi Metro Phase 4, with a combined investment of Rs 1,00,242 crore.
To meet the growing demand for housing, the PM Awas Yojana has been allocated Rs 5,36,137 crore for the construction of 3 crore homes—1 crore in urban areas and 2 crore in rural regions. The hydropower sector will receive Rs 20,286 crore to support enabling infrastructure and provide equity assistance to northeastern state governments for hydroelectric projects, including two on the Yarjep River. In the ropeway sector, Rs 6,811 crore has been earmarked for developing ropeways at Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib in Uttarakhand. Together, these initiatives form a key part of the government’s Rs 4.44 lakh crore strategy to improve transport efficiency, strengthen energy infrastructure, and enhance urban mobility.
Alongside its major infrastructure drive, the government has approved a comprehensive set of agricultural reforms and support initiatives aimed at strengthening the rural economy and enhancing farmer livelihoods. A key highlight is the announcement of the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane for the 2025–26 season, set at Rs 355 per quintal for a basic recovery rate of 10.25%. This represents a substantial 105.2% premium over the all-India average cost of production, currently at Rs 173 per quintal. The FRP will be adjusted proportionally by Rs 3.46 per quintal for every 0.1% deviation from the benchmark recovery rate. The scale of this support is underscored by the Rs 1.11 lakh crore paid to farmers during the 2023–24 sugar season, reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring fair and sustainable earnings for cane growers.
In addition to the FRP, several major schemes have been approved to further enhance agricultural resilience and sustainability. These include allocations of Rs 2,00,799 crore for the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) of Kharif crops and Rs 87,657 crore for Rabi crops. The PM Fasal Bima Yojana, aimed at providing risk coverage for crop losses, has received Rs 69,515 crore. The fertiliser subsidy framework has also been strengthened, with Rs 24,475 crore allocated for NPK fertilizers, Rs 3,850 crore for DAP, and Rs 37,216 crore for phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilisers. Additionally, there is comprehensive support for allied sectors such as dairy, livestock health, ethanol production, horticulture development, and the promotion of natural farming practices.
The government has also expanded the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, allocating Rs 10,736 crore to support the development of farm-level and post-harvest infrastructure. Collectively, these farmer-centric initiatives amount to over Rs 6.51 lakh crore, underscoring the government’s strong commitment to sustainable agriculture, improved food security, and substantial growth in rural incomes.
With a total investment exceeding Rs 16.7 lakh crore across key sectors, these decisions represent a strategic push to modernise India’s physical and social infrastructure. Spanning from Northeast connectivity corridors to metro city expansions, and from agricultural reforms to future-ready mobility, the “Viksit Bharat” roadmap aims to generate employment, streamline logistics, and enhance the quality of life for millions of citizens.