Mumbai's infra gets a boost

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will probably for the first time, spend more on development works while reducing the establishment cost during the next fiscal year of 2018-19. The move is expected to give a huge boost to several civic infrastructure and development projects, which are lined up for completion.

According to civic officials, the BMC will spend a capital expenditure of  Rs 6111 crore on civic development works, a huge rise as compared to Rs 3,800 crore spent during 2017-18. As against this, the establishment cost, which is spent on employees’ salaries and administrative expenses, will be reduced to Rs 15,800 crore from Rs 16,000 crore in 2017-18.

“The idea is to spend maximum people’s money on infrastructure and development works. We want to reduce establishment cost and spend it more on civic projects. Hence, the budget spending, which is normally 50-55 per cent, is likely to increase by 87 percent next year,” said civic chief Ajoy Mehta while replying to the debate on BMC budget for the year 2018-19 late on Tuesday night.

Mr Mehta said, “Funds of Rs 9,500 crore will be spent on civic works in the budget. They have been allocated to development projects like roads and bridges (Rs 1,800 crore), coastal road (Rs 1,500 crore), water supply (Rs 1,000 crore), health (Rs 730 crore), sewage disposal (Rs 760 crore), solid waster management (Rs 400 crore), fire brigade (Rs 192 crore), information technology (Rs 112 crore) and upgradation of primary schools and municipal buildings (Rs 700 crore).”

Of these works, roads have seen an increase of Rs 720 crore from Rs 200 crore last year. Bridges will get funds of Rs 186 crore against the rs 69 crore last year. Funds for storm water drains have been increased to Rs 443 crore from Rs 267 crore, whereas health has seen an increase of Rs 304 crore from Rs 259 crore. Funds of Rs 150 crore have been earmarked for education against the Rs 110 crore last year, he said.

To bridge the gap between revenues and expenditure, the BMC has decided to withdraw Rs 3,500 crore from the fixed deposits and savings. This money will only be spent on development projects, not on salaries, said Mr Mehta.