Kishor Pate, CMD – Amit Enterprises Housing Ltd.:
The reduction of personal income tax ceiling and the raising of home loan interest deduction will definitely increase demand for homes in cities like Pune. True to his promises, the Finance Minister has made singificant allocations towards infrastructure projects in the country. The allocation of Rs. 37,850 crore into the National Highway Authority of India will result in vastly improved road networks, which will in turn result in new vibrancy in the real estate sector. The National Housing Bank has received an allocation of Rs. 8000 crore for this program, which will have. I am especially enthusiastic about the Rs. 7060 crore allocation towards the government’s program for creating 100 smart city projects.
Arvind Jain, Managing Director – Pride Group:
It is a satisfactory budget with good implications for real estate. Significantly, the budget has included slum rehabilitation under the ambit of corporate social responsibility. We will now see greater involvement by India Inc in this very important sector and give a boost to supply in the inner parts of our major cities. The FM has given much-needed relief to individual tax payers by raising the income tax exemption limit by 50,000 and has also raised the limit of the interest part of home loans from Rs. 1.5 lakh to Rs. 2 lakh. The combined effect will definitely be renewed interest in home purchase by Indians.
Sachin Agarwal, CMD – Maple Shelters:
The budget has reduced the FDI norms for minimum built-up area for affordable housing. Additionally, Rs. 4000 crore have been allocated towards the creation of low-cost housing. This is extremely promising for the affordable housing sector and we will see an increase in housing development for the under-privileged in the peripheral areas of cities like Pune. The relief provided on individual income tax and interest on housing loans is very significant for the bduegt homes sector, since these measures have greatest pertinence to the more financially sensitive home buyers. I am happy with this budget, in which the Financial Minister has shown great foresight and set the path for economic revival.