With Delhi elections approaching, the AAP administration on Wednesday allotted more than Rs 2,500 crore for capital projects in the city, exceeding the amount allocated in the Budget declaration in March. The Delhi Jal Board (DJB), which has been struggling with funding, has also received an additional Rs 1,900 crore to meet normal revenue expenditure in the revised budget projections for the current fiscal year.
Key capital projects that have received additional funding include the ongoing Delhi Metro Phase IV expansion, road strengthening, bus depots, school buildings, additional classrooms, CCTV camera installation, flyover construction, and hospital remodeling.
The government has also put aside an additional Rs 400 crore for the MLA LAD fund to accommodate the rise in the annual ceiling per Assembly seat from Rs 10 crore to Rs 15 crore, effective immediately. The cash can be utilized to repair roads, install street lights, and undertake other maintenance tasks in each constituency.
The government has increased the entire outlay from Rs 76,000 crore in estimations for the budget to Rs 77,700 crore in revised estimates for the fiscal year 2024-25. The budget for initiatives, programs, and projects has been slightly increased, from Rs 39,000 crore (Budget projections) to Rs 39,700 crore (updated estimates).
The revenue budget has decreased from Rs 60,910 crore in Budget forecasts to Rs 60,087 crore in revised estimates. The capital budget has been raised from Rs 15,089 crore to Rs 17,612 crore in the updated projections.
Chief Minister Atishi, who also holds the Finance Ministry, presented the Delhi Appropriation Bill to the Assembly on Wednesday, demanding an extra grant to cover expenses based on updated projections. The bill was approved by the House on voice vote.
Furthermore, after the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s proposal for Rs 7,200 crore for the Phase IV extension, the government has included an additional Rs 1,648 crore in the revised projections.