Budget 2024: Govt to expand electric vehicle ecosystem to support charging infra, says FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Pic/PTI

The government will expand the electric vehicle ecosystem to support charging infra, and e-buses for public transport networks will be encouraged, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Thursday, reported news agency PTI.

Sitharaman, in her pre-election Budget 2024, which is technically a vote on account and popularly termed an interim Budget, also said the blending of compressed biogas into compressed natural gas for transport and piped natural gas will be mandatory.

Biomanufacturing and bio foundry scheme will be launched to provide environment-friendly alternatives for bio-degradable production, Nirmala Sitharaman said in her Budget 2024 speech, reported PTI.

Sitharaman said India's economic strength has made the country an attractive destination for business and conference tourism.

She said tourism has tremendous opportunities and promised that the government will take up the development of iconic tourist centres to attract foreign tourists.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that a new scheme will be launched to strengthen deep tech for the defence sector, reported PTI.

Presenting the interim Budget 2024, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also said the government will promote public and private investment in post-harvesting agriculture activities, reported PTI.

She said the application of nano DAP on various crops will be expanded in agri-climatic zones.

The finance minister said that three major railway corridors, including for cement, will be constructed, and 40,000 normal railway bogies will be converted to Vande Bharat standard.

Earlier, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the interim Budget 2024.

PM Modi chaired the cabinet meeting ahead of the Interim Budget presentation in Parliament.

This is the sixth Budget presented by the Finance Minister and last in the second term of the Modi government. The interim budget will take care of the financial needs of the intervening period until a government is formed after the Lok Sabha polls.

A full budget will be presented by the new government.

The Budget Session of Parliament commenced on Wednesday with President Droupadi Murmu addressing a joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

(With inputs from PTI)