Industry urges Government for more fund allocation on infrastructure

Mumbai, Feb 28 (UNI) Welcoming the increase in the allocation of fund for the infrastructure development, the industry has urged the Central Government to allocate more funds on the infrastructure development.

Though welcoming the increase in allocation to development of tourism infrastructure from Rs 423 cr to Rs 520 cr as a good sign, the MD of Thomas Cook India, Madhav Menon, feels that the amount is inadequate given the constraints faced by the tourism infrastructure in the country. Also, he pointed out through a statement that ''There was no mention about airports, ports development which is disappointing as these would be key to tourism promotion in the country.'' Capt Avinash Batra, Chairman, Seahorse Ship Agencies, told UNI ''There was an urgent need to develop the infrastructure particularly in the shipping sector. However, he welcomed the Finance Minister, P Chidambaram's, announcement during the Budget speech in New Delhi today that ''So far, 37 proposals regards infrastructure development including those based on PPP (Private-Public Participation) have been accepted by the Central government with a hope that ''Some of them must have been from the shipping sector too.'' Still, he urged the government to spend more money on the infrastructure development in sectors like shipping and port at a time when the exports from the country were growing at a rate two times more than its GDP.

UNI