Gandhinagar, Feb 1 (NationPress) Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel stated on Sunday that the Union Budget 2026–27, unveiled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, is set to propel India's reform ambitions towards achieving a developed and self-reliant nation, while providing long-term advantages for Gujarat.

CM Patel remarked, "This Budget advances the reform express towards a developed and Aatmanirbhar Bharat under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

He emphasized that the Budget, formulated at Kartavya Bhavan, revolves around three pivotal duties: promoting economic growth, meeting public aspirations through capability enhancement, and guaranteeing inclusive development in accordance with the vision of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'.

"The Budget prioritizes agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, self-help groups, and the rural economy, ensuring that progress touches all segments of society," stated the Chief Minister.

He added that the foundations of 'GYAN' — which include the underprivileged, youth, farmers, women, and people with disabilities — have been fortified in the Budget.

CM Patel expressed approval for announcements directly benefiting Gujarat, including the inclusion of Lothal and Dholavira in the national archaeological heritage cluster tourism development initiative, which would bolster tourism-driven growth in the state.

"This initiative will help realize the concept of 'heritage as well as development' in Gujarat," he noted.

Additionally, he highlighted the proposal to train 10,000 tourist guides for 20 iconic destinations across the nation, which he believes will create new local job opportunities at Gujarat's renowned tourist sites.

On urban development, the Chief Minister pointed out that the initiative to develop tier-II and tier-III cities with populations exceeding five lakh as City Economic Regions will facilitate organized growth in smaller cities.

"This announcement will accelerate the systematic development of small and medium cities in the state," he stated.

CM Patel also praised measures aimed at enhancing the municipal bond market, citing Gujarat's leadership in issuing municipal bonds.

"The incentives for municipal bonds will also serve urban local bodies in Gujarat positively," he remarked.

Labeling the Budget as supportive of businesses across various sectors, he stated, "This is an uplifting Budget for all, from MSMEs to large enterprises."

He underscored the emphasis on infrastructure, manufacturing, advanced technologies, semiconductors, and data centers, asserting that MSMEs will gain significantly from targeted support.

He indicated that the incentives for manufacturing would enhance Gujarat's industrial framework, while six schemes aimed at reviving the textile sector would directly benefit the state's textile industry.

CM Patel also welcomed the announcement concerning three chemical parks and a Rs 10,000 crore allocation for biopharma industries, asserting these would bolster Gujarat's chemical and pharmaceutical sectors.

Discussing logistics, he described the proposed Dedicated Freight Corridor linking Surat with Dankuni in eastern India as a "masterstroke in minimizing logistics costs."

He concluded by stating that the announcement of 20 new national waterways would further enhance inland waterway connectivity.