Karnataka Budget 2022: Bommai’s Maiden Budget Follows Modi's ‘Vikas Meets Virasat’ Line

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai presented his maiden budget today. The reading lasted for over two hours and allocations amounting to Rs 2,65,720 crore were announced. While the reading was unimpressive, the offerings of the budget which is also the last full one before the state goes to elections next year, toes the central leadership line of ‘vikas meets virasat’.

Here a few highlights of the state budget:

-As far as religious and cultural activities are concerned, the tastick amount for priests in temples run by the Muzarai department has been increased to Rs 60,000 from an earlier Rs 48,000 to ‘help out the Archakaru, Agamikaru and Employees of endowment temples’.

-A subsidy of Rs 5,000 per person will be provided by the state to 30,000 pilgrims undertaking the Kashi yatra from Karnataka.

-A Yatri Nivas complex is proposed to be constructed in Srisailam at a cost of Rs 85 crore for which 45 crore will be allotted from this budget.

-Bommai also reiterated the government‘s commitment to freeing temples from government control. “ By considering these demands of devotees, autonomy will be given to temples coming under the purview of Endowment Department. Necessary legal action will be taken to delegate the discretion of developmental works to the temples,” said the release.

-Mutts and organisations contributing to education, health and social service will be provided assistance.

-A total of Rs 3,012 crore has been allocated for the protection of cultural, historical and natural resources.

-On the heritage and tourism front, the budget provides for the rejuvenation of heritage forts in the cities of Bidar and Kalaburgi in collaboration with the ASI.

-About 400 tourist guides registered with the Tourism department will be given an incentive of Rs 2,000 per month and provided communication skills training.

-The budget also provides for the formulation of a scheme for the ‘comprehensive development of the Anjanadri hill, the birth place of Hanuman. Rs 100 crore has been granted for provision of basic facilities and a ropeway for tourists.

-Ropeways are also to be developed at Jogfalls of Sagar taluk of Shivamogga, Nandi Hills and Uttara Kannada’s Yana under the PPP model.

-Hampi - Badami - Aihole - Pattadakal- Vijayapura tourist circuit and Mysuru- Srirangapatna- Hasan- Beluru- Halebidu tourism circuit will be developmed under PPP model.

On the development front, Bengaluru continues to get the lions' share of funds with a total of Rs 8,409 crore for ‘comprehensive development of the city’. Among other announcements were:

1. Super speciality hospitals with 500 bed capacity be established in four parts of Bengaluru on PPP model

2. A Mega Jewellery park in Bengaluru under the PPP model that aims to provide employment opportunity to nearly 10,000 people

3. Amruth Nagaroththana’ scheme to be implemented at an expenditure of Rs.6,000 crore in the next three years to provide infrastructure facilities in Bengaluru city. Road development, grade separator, lake development, major storm water drain development, development of parks, buildings, solid waste management, street lights, slum area development etc., will be taken up under this scheme in limits of BBMP.

4. An additional 7.53 km of metro line has been operationalised during 2021-22 under Phase-2 of Namma Metro and in the year 2022-23, 33 km of metro line will be added.

With this Namma Metro will have a total 89 km line. Metro works have been taken up to construct 58.19 km long metro line connecting Central Silk Board with Kempegowda International Airport and this will be completed by March, 2025.

5. Detailed Project Report (DPR) to take up Phase-3 of Bengaluru Metro project at an estimated cost of Rs.11,250 crore will be submitted to Central Government for approval. This covers a distance of 32 km outer ring road from Hebbal to J.P. Nagar and 13 km between Hosahalli to Kadabagere.

6. Action to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) in the year 2022-23 for construction of 37 km long new metro line connecting Sarjapura to Hebbala through Agara, Koramangala and Dairy circle at an estimated cost of Rs.15,000 crore.

7. ’Sky Walk’ will be constructed at an expenditure of Rs.45 crore at Banashankari junction to connect metro station with bus stand and for the safety of pedestrians and street vendors.

8. Works for connecting metro station with Indian Railways will be taken up at an expenditure of Rs.55 crore in Whitefield, K.R.Puram, Baiyappanahalli, Yeshwanthpura, Jnanabharathi and Yelahanka railway stations.

9. Green Expo, on lines of Singapore model, will be constructed in the heart of Bengaluru in 105 acres of land belonging to NGEF. Demonstration on eco-friendly technology, eco-friendly transport, green infrastructure, green start-up and other demonstrations will be provided to public at Green Expo.

10. Bengaluru Sub-urban railway project is proposed to be completed by 2026 at an estimated expenditure of Rs.15,267 crore.

In this project, four corridors are envisaged to be constructed with a total length of 148 km. Tender for civil work has been invited for Chikkabanavar- Byappanahalli corridor and work will commence soon.

11. Cauvery Water Supply Scheme (Stage-5) to bring additional 775 million litres of water to Bengaluru city at a cost of Rs.5,550. So far Rs.1,556 crore has been spent. The project is being implemented in full swing and is expected to be completed by end of 2024-25.

12. In order to provide requisite infrastructure and quality education in selected Government schools of Bengaluru, 20 selected schools will be developed as ‘Bengaluru Public Schools’ at an expenditure of Rs.89 crore.