New Delhi, Feb. 1 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the Union Budget presented by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman was historic and a highway of immense opportunities that will give new speed to the "Reform Express" that India is riding.

"This budget realises the dreams of the present and strengthens the foundation of India's bright future. This budget is a strong base for our high flight towards a developed India (Viksit Bharat) of 2047," he said in his address after the budget presentation.

The budget, he said, realised the vision of trust-based governance and human-centric economy. "This is such a unique budget in which there is a focus on reducing the fiscal deficit and controlling inflation, and along with this, the...