Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday welcomed the central budget, stating that Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has accepted the state’s request to continue the scheme for special assistance to states for capital investment in the next financial year 2025-26, with an outlay of Rs 1.5 lakh crore.
Addressing a press conference in Panaji, the chief minister analyzed the key takeaways for Goa in the recently tabled Union Budget.
Union Finance Minister has accepted our request to continue the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (50 years interest-free loans) in the next FY 2025-26, with an outlay of Rs 1.50 lakh crore. In this financial year, the state has availed of this special assistance to the extent of Rs 1,185.17 crore till January.
The chief minister said that Goa has received an allocation of Rs 482 crore for Konkan Railway and South Western Railway works in Goa, which includes station development, new lines, doubling, and other miscellaneous activities.
He said that the announcement to increase the loan limit for the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) up to Rs five lakh will benefit more than 17,500 farmers in Goa.
Sawant said that the credit limit has been enhanced from Rs five crore to Rs ten crore for MSEs, benefiting such enterprises in the coastal state. A new scheme for credit for startups will be launched for five lakh tribal women entrepreneurs, which will also cover Goa.
He said that the revamping of PM Svanidhi, with enhanced credit limits and credit cards, will benefit more than 3,000 street vendors in Goa.
The chief minister said that the announcement of the upgradation of the top 50 tourism destinations in collaboration with the states is also expected to be beneficial for Goa, being a tourism state. An increase in MUDRA loan limits for homestays will also be beneficial for Goa.
