Karnataka ‘Vikasa Patra’ 2021: What’s In The Budget For Bengaluru

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa presented the state budget today at noon even as the opposition staged a walk out saying the government had ‘no moral rights’ to continue to be in power over recent happenings in the state.

Yediyurappa highlighted various provisions dedicated to women as he presented the budget on the occasion of International Women’s day. That apart, Yediyurappa’s budget has tactfully tried to keep the two largest communities - Lingayats and Vokkaligas - pleased with an equal grant of Rs 500 crore each.

A grant of Rs 500 crore has been provided for Veerashaiva Lingayat Development Corporation of which Rs 100 crore has been already released, as announced. The budget also announced the establishment of a new corporation for the Vokkaliga community and Rs 500 crore for implementation of programmes under it with another Rs 50 crore allotted for the Brahmin Development Board.

The state budget has seen a growth of 3.5 per cent, as per the release and exceeded the previous budget size by Rs. 8,314 crore. “This is a people-friendly budget without causing burden to people. There is neither an increase in tax rates nor any new tax proposals,” said the Yediyurappa, explaining the budget, in a release.

”Even in the light of adverse financial situation, I have strived to protect the interest of all sections of the society,” he added.

The budget made allocation funds under six sectors - Agriculture and allied sectors, Welfare and Inclusive growth, Stimulating Economic growth, Comprehensive Development of Bengaluru, Conservation of Culture, Heritage and Natural Resources and Administrative Reforms and Public Service Delivery.

Capital city Bengaluru once again gets a lion share with an allotment of almost Rs 8,000 crore. Here are few works in the IT capital that the budget looks at:

1. Starting the works of Bengaluru peripheral ring road. An allocation of Rs. 850 crores has be made for Bengaluru Sub-urban rail. Namma Metro project will completed on priority.

2. Experience Bengaluru centre will be developed in the land belonging to Mysore Lamp Works Limited in Malleshwaram, Bengaluru.

3. Tree Park will be developed in N.G.E.F land in Byappanahalli.

4. 57 Jana Aarogya Kendras will be started in Bengaluru at cost of Rs. 10 crore.

5. BBMP schools will also be upgraded at cost of Rs. 33 crores.

6. Action to implement ‘One Nation, One Card’ scheme before August 2021. Facility to use this card in Namma Metro and buses of Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation.

7. Implementation of Automatic Fare Collection System in Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation.

9. Starting of a new multi speciality hospital in North Bengaluru.

10. Operationalisation of Institute of Gastroenterology Sciences and Organ Transplant, which is being constructed at an expenditure of Rs.28 crore, in the current year.

11. A 50 bed capacity sub-centre of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology in K.C. General Hospital of Bengaluru at an expenditure of Rs.20 crore.

12. Establishment of Janarogya centres at an expenditure of Rs.10 crore in 57 wards of BBMP.

13. Renovation and reconstruction of Bruhath Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike schools at an expenditure of Rs.33 crore.

14. Rs. 2 crore reserved for conducting Literary and Cultural programmes every weekend in Mallathahalli Kala Grama of Bengaluru.

These apart, the budget also provides for the commencement of ‘Vanitha Sangathi’ programme for providing BMTC bus pass at concessional rate to women labourers of garment sector in Bengaluru at an expenditure of Rs.30 crore. In order to enhance the safety of women in the capital city, 7,500 cameras will be fixed in public places and action will be taken to intensify night beats through technology based e-beat system.

The budget also provides for the setup of a ‘theme park’ for permanent exhibition and demonstration of livestock in Hesaraghatta of Bengaluru. The project to fill 234 lakes of Bengaluru city, Bengaluru Rural, Tumakuru and Chikkaballapura will be implemented at a cost of Rs 500 crore. Laboratories to detect hereditary metabolic disease at the initial stage in neonates will be established in Bengaluru and Ballari at a cost of Rs 10 crore.

Provision has been made for the expeditious completion of second terminal building of Kempegowda International Airport with a proposed increase in the maximum annual passenger capacity to 60 million.

Also on the cards is the implementation of K-100 project at an expenditure of Rs 169 crore to develop Koramangala Valley as a tourist attraction, the development of the Bengaluru Signature Business Park of international standards near Kempegowda International Airport.

An allotment of Rs 450 crore has been made for the rejuvenation and upgradation of 248 MLD capacity STP of Koramangala Valley in collaboration with BBMP through Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board.

Development of weekend tourism circuit by developing infrastructure tourist spots around Bengaluru through Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation has also been proposed, while making a total commitment of Rs 500 crore for overall development of Tourism programmes in the state.

In all, the silicon city has been given a total of Rs.7,795 crore for its comprehensive development In the coming financial year.