Improved rail connectivity is expected to accelerate investment inflows, talent mobility and productivity growth

The Union Budget 2026 has received a positive response from industry leaders across infrastructure, real estate and technology, who say the proposals reflect policy continuity while addressing long-standing challenges related to project risk, capital access, urban connectivity and skills development. Executives believe the Budget strengthens India’s growth framework by aligning public investment with private participation and sustainability goals.

De-risking infrastructure investment: Sunil Nair

Sunil Nair, CEO of Ramky Infrastructure Ltd, said the Budget reinforces confidence in India’s infrastructure-led growth strategy. He highlighted the proposed Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund as a key reform aimed at reducing risk perception during the early stages of project development and construction.

By offering partial credit guarantees to lenders, the mechanism is expected to ease financing constraints and encourage greater private sector participation in large-scale infrastructure projects. Nair said this intervention could unlock stalled investments and improve execution timelines.

He also welcomed the government’s move to accelerate asset monetisation through Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) for Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE)-owned real estate. According to him, the initiative will unlock dormant assets, enhance liquidity and enable reinvestment into new infrastructure, with positive spillovers for logistics, housing and industrial development.

Nair further noted that initiatives such as chemical parks, bulk drug parks and the Rs 10,000 crore Biopharma Shakti programme would strengthen India’s manufacturing ecosystem. The proposed capital expenditure of Rs 12.2 lakh crore for FY27, he said, reaffirms infrastructure as a key driver of economic momentum.

High-speed rail and urban growth: Ajitesh Korupolu

Ajitesh Korupolu, Founder and CEO of ASBL, said the Budget positions Hyderabad as a central hub in India’s next phase of connectivity-led growth. He pointed to the proposed high-speed rail corridors linking Hyderabad with Bengaluru, Chennai and Pune as a transformative step for regional economic integration.

Korupolu said Hyderabad’s diversified economic base—spanning IT, pharmaceuticals, global capability centres (GCCs), aerospace and advanced manufacturing—places it in a strong position to benefit from enhanced connectivity. Rather than dispersing growth evenly, he said such infrastructure would amplify economic activity in cities with established scale and capability.

With over 355 GCCs employing more than three lakh professionals and sustained interest from Fortune 500 firms, improved rail connectivity is expected to accelerate investment inflows, talent mobility and productivity growth. He added that the Budget’s emphasis on credit access, asset monetisation and REIT participation strengthens long-term confidence in real estate, particularly as the sector moves towards a $1 trillion valuation by 2030.

Data centres driving realty demand: Karteesh Reddy

Karteesh Reddy, CEO of GHR Infra, said the Budget outlines a positive roadmap for Hyderabad’s real estate sector. While high-speed rail connectivity across growth corridors will support long-term development, he highlighted the extension of the tax holiday till 2047 for foreign companies setting up cloud data centres as a major catalyst.

Reddy said long-term tax certainty would attract additional global cloud and colocation players to Hyderabad, building on the presence of companies such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, CtrlS and NTT. This expansion, he said, would drive strong ancillary demand for housing, commercial spaces and integrated urban developments.

He added that developers view this policy support as a stabilising factor for the next growth cycle, while continuing to focus on sustainable, wellness-oriented communities.

Green incentives for premium housing: Lakshmi Narayana G

Lakshmi Narayana G, Designated Partner at Laxmi Infra and GHR Lakshmi Urbanblocks Infra LLP, said the Budget creates a more stable and capital-efficient real estate ecosystem by reducing project risk and improving access to institutional finance.

He welcomed the push for Green Credits and incentives for sustainable construction technologies such as dry construction methods and recyclable materials. The Construction and Infrastructure Equipment (CIE) scheme, with its focus on advanced and energy-efficient equipment, was seen as supporting the shift towards smarter buildings.

He also said simplified NRI transaction norms, particularly PAN-based TDS compliance, would reduce friction for overseas investors. Growth corridors such as Kokapet and Neopolis in Hyderabad are expected to benefit from improved financing access and green incentives.

Linking skills with services growth: Sandeep Kumar Jain

Sandeep Kumar Jain, Managing Director of CDK Global, said the creation of a High Powered Education to Employment and Enterprises Standing Committee marks a major shift in India’s human capital strategy.

By aligning education, skilling, employment and entrepreneurship, the initiative strengthens the foundation for services-led growth, particularly as digital technologies reshape the workforce. Jain also welcomed the unified IT services framework, saying it would streamline compliance and reinforce India’s leadership in global digital services.