Bhubaneswar, Feb. 1 -- Union Finance MinisterNirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said cities will remain central to India's growth strategy, announcing the creation of City Economic Regions (CERs) and the development of seven high-speed rail corridors to strengthen urban-led economic expansion.

Presenting the Union Budget 2026-27 in Parliament, Sitharaman said cities are India's engines of growth, innovation and opportunity. She said the government will now place special focus on Tier II and Tier III cities, including temple towns, which require modern infrastructure and basic amenities to unlock their full economic potential.

The Finance Minister said the Budget seeks to amplify the economic power of agglomerations by mapping City Economic Re...