Delhi Budget 2014

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today presented Delhi Budget 2014 in the Parliament. The city is currently under President's Rule. No new taxes and subsidy on power are sure to make Delhiites happy. The Budget of Rs 36,776 crore was presented.

Here are the highlights of the Budget:

• In broad terms, no new taxes were proposed.
• For power subsidy Rs 260 crore has been allocated by the government. Rs.0.80-1.20 per unit subsidy will be provided to small electricity consumers, Rs.2.80 subsidy will be given for 0-200 unit electricity consumption and Rs.5.15 for 201-400 units of consumption.
• In health sector, a multi-speciality hospital in Rohini and 50 dialysis centres across Delhi will be opened. 110 new ambulances will also be made operational.
• In the educational sector, 20 new schools, government girl schools will be opened.
• To keep the city clean Jaitley announced opening of four new sewerage treatment plants and community toilets.
• For the retired people, pension scheme has been expanded from 3.90 lakh people to 4.30 lakh people.
Opening of few more night centres was proposed.

Power Sector

• The Budget promised to improve transmission and power distribution system. Delhi Transco Ltd has been asked to commission a new 400 kv substation at Harsh Vihar and 220 kv gas insulated switch gear substation at Peeragarhi.
• Three new 220 kv GIS substation at Papankalan, Tughlaqabad and Rajghat power house will be constructed.
• Proposed to create NDMC area as a solar city.
• Power subsidy of Rs. 260 crore has been earmarked for domestic consumers.
• Rs.675 crore proposed for energy sector.
• Rs.200 crore has been made available for power reforms.

Transport

• Rs.3,702 crores assigned for transport sector.
• Announced acquisition of 1380 semi, low floor, buses for DTC. Apart from this an automated fare collection system will be introduced.
• To make the work place better, the regional offices of transport department will be modernised.
• Proposed development of new ISBT at Sarai Kale Khan and Anand Vihar.
• The elevated corridor over Barapullah Nallah will be extended from Sarai Kale Khan to Mayur Vihar. Rs.533 crore has been set aside for it.

Water availability

• Pucca parallel channel from Munak to Haiderpur will be made functional. This will provide 80 million gallons per day water for newly constructed water treatment plants at Dwarka, Okhla and Bawana.
• Work on pending Renuka dam will be resumed with initial amount of Rs.50 crore.
• Rs.2018 crore allotted for Chandrawal water treatment plant and Rs.2243 crore for Wazirabad plant. The two plants will be completely modernised.