BMC budget 2021-2022: Civic body's BEST bailout continues

Other than the latest support, BMC has so far doled out grants of Rs 3,200 crore for BEST. File pics

In its continuing efforts to keep the loss-making BEST afloat, the BMC has set aside Rs 750 crore to improve operations of the red bus undertaking. It will also pay half a crore each to the kin of those BEST staffers who lost their lives while on duty due to COVID. As it unveiled the budget for financial 2021-22, the civic body said it will engage an international consultant to achieve operational efficiency in the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport.

Ahead of last municipal elections, the Shiv Sena had talked of merging the BEST with the corporation. With a year to go for the next civic polls, sources said, the promise will mostly remain unfulfilled. The BMC has so far doled out grants of R3,200 crore to the BEST, excluding the latest financial support announced on Wednesday.

During his budget speech, BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said, "Taking into consideration the request of BEST Undertaking sympathetically, it is proposed to give financial assistance of R50 lakh to the family of each deceased employee of BEST Undertaking in case of death due to Covid-19 while discharging duty."

The corporation has promised to clear the long-pending Gratuity dues of 3,649 employees of the bus undertaking by way of a loan of R406 crore at "very nominal interest rate", said Chahal.

Just a numbers game, says opposition
>> ‘It is a comprehensive budget. It emphasises on development of basic infrastructure along with education, health and beautification of the city. The issue of property tax for small houses was a fault of the earlier CM, which we are rectifying'
- Kishori Pednekar, Mayor

>> ‘The budget is a relief for Mumbaikars. Despite the financial loss due to Corona, the budget does not propose any hike in taxes, but the opposition parties are still opposing it'
- Yashwant Jadhav, Standing Committee chairman

>> ‘This budget is depressing. There is nothing new in this. It's all a number game. There is no policy on how to increase revenue' - Ravi Raja, Leader of the Opposition

>> ‘This is a fraudulent budget that shows Mumbaikars dreams of development. But the question is where will the money come from. Revenue decreased by R6,000 crore in 2020-21' - Prabhakar Shinde, group leader, BJP

>> ‘The administration has failed to meet the revenue estimates on all fronts. Even after the pandemic, spending on health care has reduced'
- Rakhi Jadhav, group leader, NCP

>> ‘This budget will facilitate only the rich. It has nothing to do with the poor people. Despite the lessons learnt from the pandemic, the corporation has disregarded health care' - Rais Shaikh, group leader, Samajwadi Party

Relief for project affected people
The BMC has announced that project affected people or PAPs unwilling to relocate to far away tenements could get monetary compensation to speed up completion of projects. A token provision of Rs 100 crore has been kept in this budget towards this objective. A policy would be framed for this.

Malad split, city to have 25 wards
The BMC will now have 25 wards instead of 24 from financial year 2021-2022, with bifurcation of P North ward considering its huge population and vast geographical area. The new wards will be called P East, covering Malad East, and P West, which will have jurisdiction over Malad West. A plan to split more large wards is also on the cards.

Rs 50L
Relief for kin of each BEST staffer died during COVID duty