Delhi’s Rs 78,800-cr budget has something for all, says CM Kejriwal as FinMin Gahlot tables doc

Soon after the Delhi budget FY 2023-24 was presented in the Assembly by Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot on Wednesday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal it has something for everyone.

The AAP supremo further asserted that it will give a major push to infrastructure with Rs 21,000 crore being allocated for various projects.

He told a press conference that his government has been providing free education, water, power and healthcare services to citizens, but has never incurred losses, and assured that all the free schemes of the Delhi government will continue.

The Delhi government’s budget size for 2022-23 was Rs 75,800 crore and Rs 69,000 crore in the preceding year.

In 2014-15, the Budget outlay was Rs 30,940 crore, which has now gone up to Rs 78,800 crore, he said after the tabling of the financial document in the assembly.

“This is because Delhi has an honest government. Finally, the Budget was presented today. The Delhi government’s Budget for the financial year 2023-24 has something for everyone. We have so far invested heavily in education, health and electricity sectors and this will continue. This budget focuses on a clean, beautiful and modern Delhi,” Kejriwal said.

“We have achieved so much despite so many hurdles. This shows our excellent administrative skills. Delhi would have seen much more progress had it got full statehood,” he said.

He also said that all anti-corruption measures, faceless services and doorstep delivery of services will continue.

The chief minister also spoke about the various schemes announced to realise the Budget’s vision of a clean, beautiful and modern Delhi.

Under these schemes, 26 new flyovers will be constructed along with three double-decker flyovers while 1,400 kilometre of roads under the jurisdiction of public works department will be revamped.

Talking about the double-decker flyovers, Kejriwal said vehicles will ply on the lower deck and metro rail trains on the upper deck.

Talking about the augmentation of transport infrastructure, the chief minister said the government will be buying 1,600 new electric buses and developing three ISBTs with airport like faciltiies.

Kejriwal also said the country’s first multi-level bus depots will be constructed and they will have bus parking at six levels.

This was the first time that Gahlot presented the budget after taking charge of the finance department following the resignation of deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia who was arrested by the CBI in connection with the Delhi excise policy scam case.

This is the ninth consecutive budget of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and education continued to get the highest allocation of Rs 16,575 crore for the 2023-24 financial year.

He announced that local bodies will be given financial assistance of Rs 8,241 crore in the financial year 2023-24.

Addressing the assembly, Gahlot said that the budget has nine schemes as part of G-20 summit preparations.

The government will undertake upgradation and beautification of road network, construction of 26 flyovers, three double-decker flyovers in collaboration with DMRC, include 1,600 e-buses, carry out electrification of bus depots, develop world class ISBTs and work to remove three landfill sites and clean Yamuna.

Out of 26 flyover projects, 10 are in construction stage while plans for 11 have been sent to UTTIPEC for clearance.

UTTIPEC, or Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning & Engineering) Centre, is a nodal agency for clearing any transportation projects in Delhi.

(With PTI inputs)