2-3% of budgetary allocation likely for e-gov, IT projects

The government may announce plans to allocate 2-3% of budgetary allocation for e-governance and other IT projects, or around Rs 9,000 crore, said R Chandrashekhar, secretary in the Union ministry of communications and IT.

He did not confirm whether government will announce this in the forthcoming Budget. Additionally Chandrasekhar said the cabinet has approved allocation of Rs 6,000 crore to be spent by National Knowledge Network (NKN) for providing broadband connectivity towards telemedicine and other projects.

The e-government projects that will invite most of the planned expenditure include regulatory projects such as issuance of various certificates, registration documents, payment of government revenue, education and healthcare.

The tender on the e-government projects which will be out after the budget announcements will stipulate criteria for bidding.

“There will be small and large projects. While every service provider can bid for small projects, the eligibility for larger projects will include experience of handling similar projects at the state level,” said Chandrasekhar.