New Delhi, Feb 6 (PTI) Commending major allocations for education, infrastructure and law enforcement, Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood on Friday said the Union Budget 2026-27 marked a symbolic and structural shift from colonial practices, having been prepared for the first time at Kartavya Bhavan after the finance ministry’s relocation from the British-era North Block.
Addressing a press conference here, Sood said the move reflected the government’s broader effort to shed colonial-era traditions, recalling that earlier budgets were presented in the evening to align with British time zones, a practice later discontinued and further reformed by advancing the presentation date to February 1.
Calling the budget a step towards building a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047, he said the document reflected a renewed administrative mindset.
Sood said the budget had allocated Rs 12,846 crore for the Delhi Police, including Rs 986 crore for capital expenditure, aimed at strengthening law enforcement through AI-based smart traffic systems, facial recognition technology, expansion of CCTV networks and improved communication infrastructure.
Highlighting the focus on education, he said five university townships would be developed along industrial and logistics corridors, complementing the Delhi government’s Narela Education City project spread over 160 acres.
“This will be developed as a large-scale education hub to strengthen higher education and skill development,” said Sood, who also holds the education portfolio.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks in the Rajya Sabha, Sood said India had moved from being among the “fragile five” economies in 2014 to a position of strength despite global disruptions, trade tensions and conflicts.
He also welcomed the Rs 5.01-lakh crore allocation for women-led development, which accounts for 9.37 per cent of the total budget.
On urban development and infrastructure, Sood said capital expenditure had been raised to Rs 12.20 lakh crore to boost employment, connectivity and public facilities, with significant investments proposed for metropolitan cities including Delhi.
He said Delhi had also been granted permission for public borrowing for the first time, a move he described as crucial for accelerating infrastructure projects.
The minister said enhanced funding for Delhi Metro Phase-IV and pollution control initiatives would further improve public transport and sustainable development in the capital.
Calling the budget growth-oriented and inclusive, Sood said increased investment across sectors would strengthen economic confidence and benefit the poorest sections of society.
“This Budget reflects the vision of ‘Antyodaya’ to ‘Sarvodaya’ — focusing on the weakest while building a stronger future for the nation,” he added. PTI SHB ARB ARB
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