NEW DELHI: The road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari has met finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman seeking more funds in the budget which is scheduled to be presented on July 5.
The ministry has sought budgetary support of Rs 1.20 lakh crore in the upcoming budget, sources said. The demand for Rs 1.20 lakh crore is Rs 37,000 crore more than the allocated funds in the interim budget that was presented in February. The ministry was originally allocated RS 83,000 crore.
Ministry officials say that the demand for more funds is justified as the ministry wants to ensure that all pending expenditure for development and construction of National Highways is met and that the infrastructure is developed without the private sector being involved.
