The Delhi government on Wednesday presented Rs. 78,800 crore budget estimates for the financial year 2023-24 in the legislative assembly, with focus on enhancing the national Capital’s infrastructure, sanitation, transportation facilities besides the usual focus on health and education. In 2022-23, the Delhi government had presented Rs 75,800 crore budget, and the revised estimates for 2022-23 is Rs. 72,500 crore. It is the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s 9th consecutive budget, and was presented by finance minister Kailash Gahlot. “The economy is coming out slowly from Covid challenges, the Delhi government has successfully tackled the challenges thrown by Covid. The current budget presentation followed an unprecedented political drama and blame-game between the Centre and the Delhi government over some aspects of the budget, which were resolved in around 24 hours. The theme of this year’s budget is “Saaf Sundar aur Aadhunik Dilli”. Since coming to power, the AAP has been presenting theme based budgets, the first budget was themed on ‘Swaraj’. Former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who has presented 8 consecutive budgets of the AAP government, could not do so this year due to his arrest in an excise case. The portfolio of finance has been allocated to Gahlot. Notably, the share of capital expenditure as part of the overall budget has been raised 27.68 per cent in this year’s budget. The proposed capital expenditure of Rs 21,817 crore is almost three times the capital outlay of Rs 7,430 crore in 2014-15.
Through this budget, the Arvind Kejriwal-led administration aims to launch what it said is one of the most ambitious and comprehensive plans in Delhi’s history to transform it into a ‘clean, beautiful and modern city’. Nine major schemes are proposed under the ambitious theme. Delhi seeks to upgradation and beautify 1,400 kms of the entire PWD road network with a 10-year estimated expenditure of nearly Rs 20,000 crore – the biggest such effort in Delhi’s history. The Budget document said total 28 flyovers were completed in the last eight years, and construction of another 26 new flyovers is underway. These include projects like Barapullah Phase 3 flyover from Sarai Kale Khan to Mayur Vihar and elevated road at Najafgarh Phirni.
It will construct three double-decker flyovers in collaboration with DMRC at Bhajanpura to Yamuna Vihar, Azadpur to Rani Jhansi intersections, and from Saket to Pul Prahaladpur. Vehicles will run on the lower deck of these double-decker flyovers, while the Metro rail will run on the upper deck.
The Budget proposes to introduce 1,600 new zero-emission electric buses next year, as part of a massive plan to induct a total of 8,280 electric buses (80 per cent of the total fleet) by 2025 with a financial outlay of Rs 28,500 crore in 12 years.
Delhi’s growth higher than national average: Kejriwal
NEW DELHI: As the Delhi budget for fiscal 2023–24 was presented on Wednesday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the national capital is estimated to grow at 9 per cent, more than the country’s estimated growth rate of 7 per cent. Addressing a press conference after the presentation of the Budget on Wednesday, the Delhi CM said, “This year’s budget focuses on clean, beautiful, and a modern Delhi. The budget has given a huge infrastructure push, with a total outlay of about Rs 21,000 crores towards this sector. Delhi’s GSDP in fiscal 2022-23 is likely to be 9.18 per cent, significantly higher than the estimated national growth rate of 7.0 per cent.” CM Arvind Kejriwal also assured that the three landfills in Okhla, Bhalaswa, and Ghazipur will be cleared by 2024.
‘Mohalla Bus’ coming for the first time in Delhi: FM
NEW DELHI: Speaking to media after presenting Delhi’s Budget, Delhi’s Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot shared that ‘Mohalla Bus’ is also coming for the first time in Delhi’s history. Adding further, he shared that the small buses will be purchased and deployed by Delhi Government to provide the facility to the people of Delhi. “I don’t think there has ever been such a comprehensive plan for a clean, beautiful and modern Delhi. No state has had such a comprehensive plan where work has been done from big to small aspects. Mohalla Clinics for women is a good concept, and we will take it forward.
