The Times of India          02.12.2013

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation proposes Rs 3,850 cr budget

HYDERABAD: Citizens can expect more developmental works in the next financial year, 2014-15. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has proposed to spend Rs 2,110 crore under capital expenditure in the next fiscal, about Rs 500 crore more than the current financial year.

The corporation has placed the draft budget for the 2014-15 financial year with an estimation of Rs 3,850 crore before the standing committee. The budget estimates for the next financial year have been pegged at Rs 700 crore more than the current year's revised budget estimates of Rs 3,156 crore.

Of the proposed capital expenditure, the corporation has earmarked Rs 70 crore for taking up road under bridges, road over bridges and flyovers that were proposed at Uttamnagar, Gachibowli flyover and ongoing works at Kandikalgate and Uppuguda. For the MMTS phase II, the GHMC has allocated Rs 172 crore, lands and improvements works Rs 463 crore, Rs 533 crore for roads and pavements, Rs 69 crore for streetlighting and Rs 77.55 crore for providing water supply and sewerage in surrounding municipal circles.

Interestingly, the budget for upgradation of major roads has been reduced to Rs 136 crore for the next financial year from Rs 153 crore this year. Similarly, minor roads upgradation cut to Rs 114 crore from Rs 162 crore this year. However, a considerable amount, Rs 28 crore, has been set aside for junction improvement and Rs 36 crore for construction of stadia and improvement of play grounds in the next financial year.

Since expansion of many roads has been taken up by the corporation for smooth flow of traffic, Rs 330 crore has been earmarked for land acquisition. Protection of lakes and open spaces has taken a back seat in the budget allocation with only Rs five lakh granted against Rs 10 lakh this year.

GHMC officials expect Rs 2,823 crore revenue receipts, including Rs 1,095 crore towards property tax, Rs 200 crore building fee and Rs 100 crore betterment charges and Rs 12 crore cell phone towers permission.

The budget would be placed before the general council in the third week of December, officials said.