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Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
This year’s union budget has been encouraging for the housing finance sector and the overall economy. The proposal to introduce 100% deduction to undertakings for construction of affordable housing will help us in realizing honorable PM’s “Housing for all by 2022” scheme.
The proposal to introduce guidelines for renegotiation of PPP contracts and reform dispute redressal mechanism will encourage private participation in the development of affordable housing projects and road infrastructure.
Decision to exempt REITS from DDT is also a welcome move. This will ensure positive movement on real estate projects and will help in bringing the sector on a sustained growth path.
DHFL had recommended empowering the customer for greater affordability. In this context, the decision to give additional exemption of Rs 50,000 for housing loan upto Rs 35 lakh sanctioned in 2016-17 for 1st time home buyer provided the cost of a house is not above Rs 50 lakh is praiseworthy and will definitely ensure that more Indians will fulfill their dream of owning a home of their own.
The decision to improve the ease of doing business in India by deepening corporate bond market and announce initiatives to reinvigorate private sector has come at the right time. This coupled with reduction in corporate tax rates from 30% to 29% from FY18 for companies with turnover less than Rs.5 cr will boost the SME sector and help in economic growth.
DHFL welcomes government’s commitment to boost road infrastructure and address rural distress by skill development of rural population, allocating funds for MGNREGA scheme and providing support to agriculture. We are of the view that this year’s budget will enable the Indian economy to withstand adverse global pressure and move on the road to a more balanced, sustainable and inclusive growth. We will remain an attractive destination for investment over the medium and long term.
We also look at this Budget as one which has been quite responsible on the deficit and borrowings. Coupled with fall in crude prices which is a major input cost in our system, we can safely bet on inflation remaining benign. We see a very positive move on interest rate front as well as on bond market that will give a great fillip to financial services sector.
