New Delhi, Sept. 10 -- Punjab has urged the Centre to double its allocation under the SASCI (Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment) scheme-a 50-year interest-free loan program for capital expenditure-citing extensive damage from recent floods.

The state's finance minister, Harpal Singh Cheema, told Mint that Punjab's infrastructure losses warrant higher support from the central government.

Punjab received Rs.2,269 crore under the scheme in FY25, and Rs.529 crore so far in FY26-among the lowest disbursals to any state. By comparison, West Bengal drew Rs.10,305 crore and Bihar Rs.14,791 crore last year. Notably, Punjab, along with Kerala, did not receive any funds under SASCI in FY24.

"We didn't get any funds under the sche...