As Delhi elections approach, the AAP government on Wednesday allocated over Rs 2,500 crore for capital projects in the city, which was earmarked in the budget announcement in March.
The Delhi Jal Board (DJB), which is facing a fund crisis, has been given an additional Rs 1,900 crore in the revised budget estimates for the current financial year to cover its regular revenue expenditure.
Major capital projects that have received additional funding include the ongoing Delhi Metro Phase IV expansion, strengthening of busy roads, bus depots, school buildings, additional classrooms, installation of CCTV cameras, construction of flyovers, and reconstruction of existing hospitals.
The government has earmarked an additional Rs 400 crore for the MLA LAD Fund for which the limit per assembly constituency per year may be adjusted from Rs 10 crore to Rs 15 crore – with immediate effect. The money can be used for road repair, street light installation and maintenance work in each constituency.
The government has increased the total outlay in the budget estimates from Rs 76,000 crore to Rs 77,700 crore in the revised estimates for the financial year 2024-25. There has been a slight increase in the budget under plans, programs and projects – from Rs 39,000 crore (budget estimate) to Rs 39,700 crore (revised estimate).
The revenue budget fell from Rs 60,910 crore in the budget estimate to Rs 60,087 crore in the revised estimate. In the revised estimate, the capital budget has been increased from Rs 15,089 crore to Rs 17,612 crore.
Chief Minister Atishi, who also holds the finance portfolio, presented the Delhi Appropriation Bill in the Assembly on Wednesday, requesting supplementary grants to meet the expenditure as per revised estimates. The bill was passed by the House by voice.
Additionally, after the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation requested Rs 7,200 crore for the fourth phase expansion, the government has allocated an additional Rs 1,648 crore for it in the revised estimates. It also included an additional Rs 100 crore for the Delhi-Shahjahanpur-Neemrana-Behrod and Delhi-Panipat-RRTS corridors in the revised estimates. An additional Rs 140 crore has also been allocated for free bus travel for women.
The allocation for power subsidy has increased by Rs 350 crore over the Rs 3,250 crore allocated in March.