The Hindu             17.02.2014

BBMP’s ‘development-oriented’ budget to be presented today

Bangaloreans, who were disappointed that the State Budget did not hold much for the city, are looking with hope at the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). The civic body is all set to present its budget for 2014-15 on Monday.

According to sources, the budget will be a “development oriented” one. The outlay, the sources claimed, will be less than Rs. 8,000 crore. Last year, the amount was Rs. 8,519 crore.

It will focus on improvement of the city’s basic infrastructure, specially drains, footpaths and roads.

Some of the projects that are likely to find a mention are steel bridges between Hudson Circle and Minerva Circle, and another from Shivananda Circle to Seshadripuram Railway Underbridge, and an elevated road between Sony World Junction and Kendriya Sadan in Koramangala.

Funds position

The State Budget had allocated Rs. 1,527 crore to the BBMP under various schemes. That apart, projects worth Rs. 1,500 crore have been approved under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

The civic body has pending bills amounting to Rs. 2,000 crore and outstanding loans of Rs. 3,000 crore.

This year, the BBMP hopes to garner Rs. 3,000 crore through taxes from various sources. To improve revenue through property tax collections, a special cell targeting high value properties has been proposed.

Sources said that with parliamentary elections round the corner, the ruling party in the BBMP Council is expected to announce a few populist schemes to woo voters. Towards this end, the Bharatiya Janata Party has decided not to increase taxes.

Though property tax rates should have been revised, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike has deferred the decision, sources added.

The budget will be presented by the chairperson of the BBMP’s Standing Committee for Taxation and Finance, M.S. Shivaprasad.

The Times of India            15.02.2014

The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has commenced Kumbh mela related works

NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has commenced 20 of the total 96 Kumbh mela related works amounting to Rs 448.83 crore, while 12 works worth Rs 91.01 crore are in the tendering stage. The tender process for 17 other works amounting to Rs 152.94 crore are expected by March end.

With just a few months left for the Kumbh mela scheduled in 2015, the civic administration of NMC has speeded up the kumbh-related works. The state government has also released the kumbh funds amounting to Rs. 218 crore for the NMC, which is expected to be received within next few days.

A civic official told TOI: "Of the Rs 1,052.61 crore Kumbh plan of the NMC, works worth nearly Rs 700 crore are in progress. The tender process for works worth Rs 152.94 crore are to be commenced in a month. The state government has released funds amounting to Rs 218 crore and we are expecting it within a week."

Works orders for 20 Kumbh-related works, totally worth Rs 448.83 crore, have been given to the contractors and they are in process of execution - these comprise 16 road-related works worth Rs 430.31 crore, a bridge on Godavari worth Rs 6.13 crore and three drainage works worth Rs 12.39 crore, sources said.

Apart from this, 12 works worth Rs 91.01 crore are in the tendering process. Of which, seven works worth Rs 66.45 crore are from water supply department, three for construction of bridges worth Rs 15.59 crore and two works worth Rs 8.97 crore are of sewage treatment management.

By March end, tenders will be floated for another 17 works amounting to Rs 152.94 crore. Of which, four works worth Rs 82.70 crore are of Sadhugram, road work worth Rs 30 crore, temporary parking with toilet facility worth Rs 10 crore, two works worth Rs 7.52 crore from the water supply department, one drainage work worth Rs 6.79 crore, work pertaining to medical services worth Rs 1.5 crore, two works worth Rs 2.1 crore from the electricity department, and five works worth Rs 12.33 crore are from the fire brigade.

In October last year, the apex committee of the state government on Kumbh mela had approved the Kumbh plan of Rs 2,378.71 crore for the district, including Rs 1,052.61 crore for the NMC.

The NMC's plans include Rs 82.7 crore (four works) for Sadhugram, Rs. 462.5 crore (21 works) for roads, Rs 24 crore (four works) for construction of bridges, Rs 55 crore (four works) for temporary parking and toilets, Rs 96.23-crore (16 works) for water supply management, Rs 29.25 crore (six works) for sewage treatment management, Rs 31.58-crore (seven works) for medical services, Rs 20 crore (three works) for sanitary and health related services, Rs 27.35 crore (nine works) for electricity management, Rs 24-crore (22 works) for fire brigade and Rs 200-crore for land acquisition.