Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today proposed a Rs 4,770 crore package to help provide adequate infrastructure for the growth and development of Bangalore city.
Presenting the 2011-12 budget in the State Legislative Assembly, Mr. Yeddyurappa, who holds the Finance Portfolio, said “...for the overall development of Bangalore, an amount of about Rs 4,770 crore would be spent through various sources. This would help in providing adequate infrastructure for the growth and development of the city.”
He added the phase-I of the Bangalore Metro project with a length of 42.3 km would be completed by June 2013.
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“As promised, Reach I from Byappanahalli to M G Road would be opened for commercial operations on April 4 this year. The State has already released more than Rs 2,600 crore as financial support to this project”, he said.
Phase-II of Bangalore Metro of six lines covering a distance of about 71 km has been approved in principle by the government. For completion of phase-I of Metro, Rs 683 crore has been provided during 2011-12.
He announced that a new project of BRTS (bus rapid transit system) is being considered from Hebbal to Central Silk Board here at a total cost of Rs 550 crore.
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Bangalore Development Authority would take up a number of development works in 2011-12 at an estimated cost of Rs 750 crore.
It has been proposed to establish an international convention centre here in collaboration with Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board near the Bangalore airport in the next 15 months with an investment of Rs 150 crore.
Four modern super speciality hospitals would be built in the city in public private partnership.
Mr. Yeddyurappa, who sought approval for vote on account to incur expenditure up to July 31 this year, proposed continuation of Value Added Tax exemption on paddy, rice, wheat, pulses and products of rice and wheat for one more year from April this year.
He announced exemption from VAT of coconut and de-oiled rice bran, as also on leasing of feature films and sale of copyrights relating to feature films.
The Chief Minister proposed to exempt distributors of feature films from registration and to provide for payment of composition amounts in lieu to regular tax by home-stay units.
The composition amount payable in respect of “totalisator tax” by Bangalore Turf Club is proposed to be increased from four per cent to eight per cent.
A pay committee would be constituted for considering the government servants’ request vis-a-vis pay revision.
Besides, a sum of Rs 62 crore would be provided for establishment of new industrial clusters.
“A comprehensive proposal to revive and revitalise Mysore Paper Mills is under preparation. An amount of Rs 100 crore required for this purpose would be mobilised”, Mr. Yeddyurappa said.
It is proposed to reserve some area in every industrial estate for development of small scale industries.
The Chief Minister proposed to increase the honorarium of Anganawadi workers from Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 and that of helpers from Rs 1,250 to Rs 1,500.