Though the Delhi Budget has taken a fair bit from the people through a higher VAT and removal of subsidy, it offers little to the masses through new schemes and much of the funds would be utilised to complete the ongoing infrastructure projects ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
Still as per the Budget there would be a lot of development that Delhiites would get to see. The DTC bus fleet is being modernised with the addition of 3,775 low-floor buses at a cost of Rs.2,019 crore and the Corporation would be introducing a special non-stop service on 50 important routes.
The Government would also be spending Rs.5,646 crore on 26 flyovers, road over-bridges and rail under-bridges being constructed by the Public Works Department. While construction of 31 foot over-bridges has been completed, another 26 would be completed before the Games.
For overcoming the parking problem, Rs.473 crore has also been set aside for new parking sites being developed by covering the Kushak Nullah, Sunehri Bagh Nullah, DPS Mathura Road Nullah and Ash Pond of IP Station near Ring Road. Work on new streetlights worth Rs.198 crore by the PWD is nearing completion and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has been given Rs.83 crore for installing such lights in its areas. Health infrastructure is also in for a major overhaul and a 500-bed block at GTB Hospital in Shahdara is expected to become functional in the coming fiscal. Similarly three 200-bed hospitals would be constructed at Vikaspuri, Burari and Ambedkar Nagar and a 750-bed hospital would come up at Dwarka through the public private participation model.
The Budget has also made provision for start of construction of 17 school buildings in 2010-11.
Finance Minister A.K. Walia informed that three units of the Bawana power plant generating 750 MW would be commissioned by September 2010 while the remaining three would be commissioned in March 2011.
