Delhi budget 2023-24 was tabled in the Assembly today by the AAP government, following a bitter tussle between the Centre and AAP government. The Union Home Ministry gave its nod to the Delhi Budget after initially objecting to allocations in various heads.
The ministry’s approval came after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him not to stall the Delhi budget. “This is the first in the last 75 years that a state’s budget has been stalled. Why are you upset with Delhiites? Please don’t stall Delhi’s budget. With folded hands, Delhiites are requesting you to pass their budget,” he said in the letter.
Delhi’s new finance minister, Kailash Gahlot, presented Rs 78,800-crore budget for the financial year 2023-24. Gahlot said that the budget is dedicated to clean, beautiful and modern Delhi.
Gahlot, who has been looking after the finance portfolio since the arrest of Manish Sisodia, said he would have been happier if the budget was presented by the latter who is like his “elder brother”.
“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 ninth budget of the Delhi government and my first,” he said.
The Delhi government has allocated Rs 16,575 crore for education and Rs 2,034 crore for various infrastructure projects for the financial year 2023-24. It allocated Rs 9,742 crore for Health, a marginal decrease from Rs 9,769 crore last year.
He further alleged that despite its huge contribution, Centre has been allocating just Rs 325 crore to Delhi as its share in central taxes.
Delhi budget 2023-24: Key announcements
1. 26 flyovers, bridges and underpasses to be constructed.
2. Upgradation of 1,400-km PWD road network.
3. 1,900 zero-emission electric buses to be inducted by end of 2023. It will reduce Co2 emissions by 1.07 lakh tonnes
4. 1,400 new modern bus shelters to be built.
5. AAP government to connect all colonies to sewer network and increase the capacities of sewage treatment plants to clean Yamuna.
6. Every possible help will be given to MCD to remove 3 mountains of garbage in Delhi in two years. Okhla landfill to be removed by December 2023, Bhalswa by March 2024, Ghazipur by December 2024. MCD to get Rs 850 cr for flattening landfills.
7. Local bodies will be given financial assistance of Rs 8,241 crore in financial year 2023-24.
8. Delhi govt to construct 3 unique double-decker flyovers in collaboration with DMRC.
9. Electrification of 57 existing bus depots, construction of 9 new bus depots, 3 ISBTs, 2 multi-level bus depots in Delhi.
10. 6-point action plan for a clean Yamuna.
11. Mohalla Bus scheme for the last mile connectivity.
12. 100 e-buses to be launched in 2023-24 and 2,180 in the next 2 years.
13. Delhi will treat 890 million gallons of sewage a day by March 2024.
14. 350 Delhi govt schools to get 20 computers each and all teachers, principals, vice-principals to get tablets.
15. Delhi govt plans to open 100 Mahila Mohalla Clinics in 2023-24.
16. 9 new hospitals being built, 4 to be operational this year. Hospital bed count to increase from 14,000 to 30,000.
17. Water availability in Delhi to be increased from 995 million gallons a day to 1,240 MGD by March 2025.
