Delhi Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot on Wednesday proposed a budget worth Rs 78,800 crore, two days after the standoff between the Aam Aadmi Party and the Union government over high expenditure allocation for advertisements and publicity.
Gahlot, in his budget speech, lauded the Delhi model of governance and said the AAP government has shown zero tolerance for corruption.
Rs 21,000 will be used to make Delhi clean, beautiful and modern,” Gahlot said.
The finance minister also hailed the government’s infrastructure projects, including the recently inaugurated Ashram flyover, and said they have ensured smooth commuting in the city.
Gahlot stated that cleaning of Yamuna river is a priority and the city government will work with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to clear three main landfills in Delhi.
Rs 325 crore was allotted from the Centre for the state’s share in central taxes for the last 8 years, he said.
MAJOR SCHEMES
Delhi Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot proposed several major schemes in the budget. These are:
- Upgradation and beautification of 1,400 km of the entire PWD road network
- Construction of 26 new flyover/underpass/bridge projects in different parts of Delhi
- Construction of 3 unique double-decker flyovers
- Induction of 1,600 new zero-emission electric buses
- Electrification of 57 existing bus depots of Delhi
- Construction of 3 world-class Inter-State Bus Terminals
- Clearing three garbage landfills of Delhi
- n his speech, Gahlot noted that he would have been happier if his “elder brother” Manish Sisodia presented the budget.
“I would have been happier if Manish Sisodia had presented the budget. He is my elder brother. I am sure the best wishes of children all over the world are with Manish Sisodia. This is the 9th budget of the Delhi government and my first,” he said.
Delhi’s budget for fiscal year 2023-24 was supposed to be tabled on Tuesday, but at the eleventh hour, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) objected to the allocation of funds for infrastructure and advertisements. It put a hold on the budget and sought a clarification from the Delhi government.
This touched off a furious war of words between the AAP government and the Centre. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called the objections unconstitutional and groundless, while the BJP claimed the details of the budget were leaked.
