From the elite to the middle class and even the poor, there was something for everyone in the Rs16,792.77crore budget presented by municipal commissioner Jairaj Phatak.
MUMBAI: From the elite to the middle class and even the poor, there was something for everyone in the Rs16,792.77crore budget presented by municipal commissioner Jairaj Phatak on Monday.
Up by 25% from last year, the budget balanced development issues with upgradation and strengthening of existing infrastructure.
While there was no tax rise, Phatak served up a dream of an aesthetic and a cleaner city. Heritage walks along footpaths and pavements, cleaner beaches and beautification of heritage and tourism sites like the Haji Ali seafront have been promised.
For the poorer sections, a slew of special welfare schemes were announced. These include scholarships for students from the backward caste, Re1 per day allowance for poor girl students from BMC schools and free artificial limbs for disabled women and children below the age of 14. The perk is also available to all physically challenged people from the backward caste.
Octroi exemption has been offered to bolster the dying textile industry. Phatak said while this would lower the BMC’s revenue by Rs15 crore, the measure was important to revitalise the industry. “We have got complaints from the industry that the tax was leading to an exodus of business to other cities like Surat and Ahmedabad,” he said.
The common man has reason to cheer with property tax incentives and smart cards. Called Mahapalika Seva cards, they will be given to all the citizens availing BMC services. For the working Mumbaikar, BMC has proposed mega citizen facilitation centres for railway and airline reservations, registration of birth and death certificates and even banking.
Funds have been set aside for major policy decisions announced last year including the 24/7 water supply mission (Rs 4,269.62 crore), roads and street furniture (Rs1,808.90 cr), healthcare (Rs1,544.75 cr) drains (Rs1,939.52 crore), education (Rs 1,360.62 cr).
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