Mumbai: BMC budget proposed at Rs 25141. 51 crore this year, 32.14% less than last year

- BMC cuts allocation to health from Rs 3,693 crore in 2016-17 to Rs 3,311 crore for 2017-18. The total revenue expenditure for health is Rs 2,755.96 crore and capital expenditure id 555.77 crore.

- To increase number of nurses across city hospitals, BMC has proposed creation of 582 new posts. The overall numbers of the nurses will be increased as at the moment it is the resident doctors who are over burdened with tasks meant for nurses and ward boys.

- 400 ventilators will be added in the next two years. Provision of Rs 30 crore for this in 2017-18.

- City hospitals to get 9 new modular operation theatres to facilitate infection free, super speciality services. Rs 21.50 crore allotted for this.

- Tenders will be processed for new hostels at KEM, Sion and Nair hospitals. Also, tender for hostels at Hindu Hridaya Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray medical college at Tata compound. Budget of Rs 2.5 crore for this.

- Strengthening peripheral medical services, work on construction of Kasturba Cross Road Hospital, Borivali (w) starts and tender floated for redevelopment of MT Agarwal Hospital in Mulund, Bhagwati Hospital in Borivali and Centenary Hospital in Govandi. Provision of 25.48 crore for this.

- A budget provision of Rs 90.61 crore has been made for TB control in the city.

Additional measures announced

- BMC will be taking steps for ease of doing business- simplified process by creating a single window system.

- Rs 1000 crore proposed (only this year) for Mumbai coastal road project. It is planned to be completed it in 4 years.

- Rs 130 crore for the Goregaon-Mulund Link road which will have an underground tunnel beneath the Borivali national park. The tunnel length is expected to be 4.75 km.

- After scams in the Roads Dept, this year only Rs 1095 has been proposed. Last year Rs 2886 crore had been allotted.

To improve roads before monsoon - first priority- 107 road works expected to be completed by 15 May and second priority- 938 road works for which tenders are invited and work expected to be issued by 10 April.

Rs 74 crore proposed for 10 works i.e upgradation of storm water drain network at various locations in the city for mitigation of flooding.                        

- Rs 25 crore to curb pollution of Mithi river. Consultants are appointed for short and long term works.

- 8 new sanitation facilities proposed to be developed specially for women at the cost of Rs 2.88 crore.

- Rs 26.80 crore for development of playgrounds and Rs 70 crore for 20 garden/recreational grounds development in 2017-18.

- Rs 45 crore for construction of 8 swimming polls in the city and suburbs.

Others measures announced:

- BMC estimates to get Rs 1500 crore from octroi in the first three months as GST will come into affect from July. 

- BMC has allotted Rs 1095 crore for the Roads and Traffic Department in order to complete road works in minimum amount of time.

- Rs 1 crore has been proposed for two new fire stations. BMC has proposed 28 more gymnasiums at fire stations during 2017-18 and allotted Rs 1.5 crore.                      

- BMC has also proposed to do beautification work on both sides of the Mithi River and allotted Rs 25 crore for it.     

- The civic body will stress on cashless transactions and provide more PoS machines in the each ward office.

- BMC intends to start video conferencing/telemedicines between major hospitals for expert opinion for treatment of patients through V-Sat or internet. Speciality and super speciality experts at KEM, LTMG , NAIR and Cooper hospital will offer opinions through video conferencing.

- BMC plans to start Aapli Chikitsa with a budget provision of Rs 16.15 crore for pathology tests at the dispensaries, maternity homes, to needy patients.

- Total budget for health is Rs 3311.73 crore where revenue expenditure is Rs 2755.96 cr while capital expenditure is Rs 555.77 cr.

- There is no hike in rates of the present taxes and no new taxes have been proposed in the budget for 2017-18.

- There will be no water cut this year   

- Civic body intends to improve security at hospitals with 400 persons from MSFC at an annual cost of Rs 15.11cr           

- Free travel of visually-impaired and differently-abled persons in BEST buses with budgetary allocation of Rs 6 crore. This year, 1 crore more budget will be allocated for it.

- Around 111 public services will be made online. E agenda will be implemented.

- All the slum settlements will now get water connections by the BMC irrespective of their tenure. Earlier slum dwellings erected after the year 2000 were not eligible for piped water supply. This step will not only increase the civic body's revenue since all the slum will be included in water supply network of the BMC, but also address the problem of illegal water connections resulting in water leakages and water contamination.

 

The most important step taken by the BMC this year is human resource rationalization and modernization. The current system of separate cadres of stenographers, clerks and telephone operators will be discontinued. All these functions shall be carried out by a single post of the executive assistant.

The BMC has already imposed granting overtime allowances to the Employees. Feasibility of outsourcing the services wherever possible. Unnecessary expenditures in day-to-day activities will also be curtailed. It is expected that these measures will reduce the cost of the administration by Rs 2525.56 crore

 

Where and how much will BMC spend in the year 2017 - 18

Health-  Rs. 555.77 crore
Improvement schemes - Rs. 16 7.97 crore
Slum improvement- Rs. 199. 20 crore
Education budget- Rs 358.09 crore
Water supply and sewerage-  Rs 1611.16 crore
Tree authority-  Rs 5.40 crore.

Some other measures announced include:

- Mumbai's 34 fire stations will have their own gymnasium. BMC has proposed a budget provision of Rs 1.50 crore for the year 2017-18

- BMC will focus on beautification of city beaches. The civic body is planning to illuminate the dangerous beaches with a view to increase security. These include Aksa, Marve, Manori, Dana Pani, Yerangal beaches. Similarly, the BMC will also beautify beaches like Dadar, Sewri, 7 Bungalows, Gorai, Versova, Aksa by providing decorative energy saving fixtures.

- Out of Rs 25141.51 crore, Rs 8127.08 crore will be spent on capital expenditure which is meant for development of the city's infrastructure and other civic amenities.