Establishing a new bus stand in Srirangam, the Chief Minister's constituency, modernisation of the fish market in the city, construction of a couple of pedestrian foot overbridges, expansion of two wheeler parking lots at the Chathram Bus Stand and Gandhi Market and a decision to go in for a geographical information system (GIS) for designing civic projects are some of the salient features of the Corporation Budget for 2012-13, presented here on Monday.
After city expansion
But for these announcements, the first civic budget after the expansion of the city limits has failed to come up with any direction for major infrastructure development or revenue augmentation. The Corporation would continue to depend heavily on the State government for funds to improve civic amenities in the city and expects an allocation of Rs.97.50 crore under the Integrated Urban Development Mission (IUDM) for the purpose.
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No tax revision has been proposed in the Budget that projects a deficit of Rs.11.42 crore. The Budget estimates project the civic body's total revenue for the next financial year at Rs.276.32 crore and expenditure at Rs.287.74 crore.
The deficit for 2011-12 has been scaled down to Rs.1.93 crore in the revised estimates, against the budgetary projection of Rs.18.09 crore, said V.Ayyappan, Chairman, Standing Committee on Taxation and Finance, tabling the Budget at an urgent meeting of the Council chaired by Mayor A.Jaya.
The intensive tax collection measures and receipt of government grants in time have resulted in curtailing the deficit, Mr.Ayyappan said.
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Significant among the Budget proposals will be the construction of the bus stand at Srirangam, a long felt need given the huge number of devotees and tourists visiting the temple town right through the year.
The Corporation has earmarked Rs.9 crore for the project, though the site for the bus stand was not been specified.
The Corporation proposes to improve civic amenities such as roads, water supply, street lights, solid waste management and other amenities in the five new wards and the newly added colonies in the existing city limits with an expected sanction of Rs.97.50 crore under the IUDM.
Proposal droped
The civic body has dropped the proposal for construction of three pedestrian subways, announced in its previous budget. Instead, two foot over bridges are being planned now near Mainguard Gate and near the Central Bus Stand.
The existing toilet complex, two wheeler parking lot and some of the retail and wholesale shops near the Diamond Jubilee building opposite to the Gandhi Market would be demolished. The Corporation proposes a new complex at the site, at an investment of Rs.15 crore, to house a food court, cloak room, indoor sports amenities, modern toilet and a multi-storey parking lot.
Similarly, a two-storey two wheeler parking lot would be built at Chathram Bus Stand replacing the existing one, which has been bursting at its seams. The project would be taken up at a cost of Rs.5 crore.
The Corporation has set aside Rs.1.35 crore for creating new public parks and improving existing ones. The Budget sets aside Rs.50 lakhs for implementing a GIS-based system for effective designing and planning of civic projects
The Council would take up the Budget for discussion on Tuesday.