Union Budget, 2022: Road Transport Sector Misses Attention

The FM Nirmala Sitharaman announces the Union Budget 2022-2023, today February 1. With many lookouts for the infrastructure, MSME, real estate, unfortunately, the road transport segment missed attention from the union government in the budget.

However, the government announces the PM GatiShakti program today, which is a transformative approach for economic growth and sustainable development. The approach is driven by seven engines, namely, Roads, Railways, Airports, Ports, Mass Transport, Waterways, and Logistics Infrastructure. All 7 engines will pull forward the economy in unison. Bu, the road transportation sector did not gain any additional focus in the budget, which was a much-needed lookout at a time when supply chain disruption is a challenge.

Commenting on that, Naveen Kumar Gupta, Secretary-General, All India Motor Transport Corporation (AIMTC) told the media, "The road transport sector of India is feeling left out and disappointed with today's budget announced by the FM. This sector has been suffering for the last many years and worst in the last 2 ones due to covid fallout. The road transport sector has been up and alive to maintain the continuity of the supply chain of essential commodities, medicines, and oxygen supply. The budget is focussed on futuristic infrastructure development rather than on present adversities faced by the common man and the transport sector. The rising inflation and reducing disposal income raised hopes on relief for the middle class but that too dashed to the ground."

Gupta added, "The road transport sector of India which is supposedly the backbone of the country and provide sustenance to about 20 crores 'Common Man' fraternity of India associated with the transport trade deplore the continued apathy of the Government to this sector."