Ahead of Union Budget 2026, industry leaders across logistics, retail, clean energy, technology and hospitality have called for major infrastructure reforms and a significant increase in budgetary allocations. A recent survey by the Logistics Sector Skill Council (LSC) underscored the need for an infrastructure-focused budget aligned with India’s ambition to emerge as a global economic powerhouse. Building on last year’s Rs 1.5 trillion allocation of interest-free loans to states and landmark investments in highways, urban transport and smart cities, expectations are high for a potential doubling of this outlay.

Ravikanth Yamarthy, CEO, Logistics Sector Skill Council, said that as the logistics sector becomes a key driver of economic momentum, Budget 2026 offers a defining opportunity to set new benchmarks in growth, employment generation and Atmanirbhar Bharat. He noted that enhanced infrastructure allocations, combined with support for digital logistics, green supply chains and large-scale upskilling, could significantly improve supply-chain efficiency and global competitiveness.

Industry leaders also highlighted the importance of retail-oriented infrastructure. Shrenik Ghodawat, Managing Director, Sanjay Ghodawat Group, said the Budget should encourage investments in modern warehousing, cold-chain facilities and last-mile logistics, particularly in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. He added that granting industry status to retail infrastructure would lower capital costs and accelerate the development of integrated retail parks, while improved roads, power reliability and digital connectivity remain essential.

Clean energy stakeholders stressed the need for decentralised and sustainable infrastructure. Avishek Kumar, Founder and Director, Sunkonnect, called for greater investment in decentralised solar, microgrids and community energy systems, alongside recycling and R&D ecosystems for solar panels and batteries. He emphasised that low-cost finance and viability gap funding could unlock rapid deployment and strengthen domestic supply chains.

Technology leaders urged the government to prioritise digital and AI infrastructure. Gagan Arora, Founder and President, Vertex Group, said major investments in data centres, affordable power tariffs and tax incentives for advanced computing and AI hardware were critical. He added that dedicated infrastructure for indigenous AI would be transformative for both the sector and the wider economy.

The hospitality sector also sought policy support. Manbeer Choudhary, CMD, Noormahal Group, urged the government to grant infrastructure status to hotels to improve access to institutional finance and enable faster capacity expansion. He further highlighted the need for streamlined approvals and a unified single-window clearance system to reduce project delays and costs.

With unified calls from diverse industries, stakeholders believe Union Budget 2026 represents a pivotal opportunity to build an inclusive, future-ready India anchored by robust infrastructure and innovation across sectors.