Glimmer of hope for city’s INFRA projects

However, there is bad news for tipplers and gold lovers -- alcohol and the precious metal are going to be more costly.

Glimmer of hope for city's INFRA projects

However, there is bad news for tipplers and gold loversu00a0-- alcohol and the precious metal are going to be more costly.

While Bangalore got a small share in Chief Ministeru00a0 B Su00a0 Yeddyurappa's agriculture-oriented budget, the city can hope for infrastructure development focusing on decongesting the traffic. Yeddyurappa, who also holds the finance portfolio, set aside Rs 4,500 crore for city development out of Rs 85,319 crore, the total estimated expenditure for the next fiscalthat year, to focus on road infrastructure, drinking water and housing.

u00a0A bag full of goodies? Well, almost! Pics/Satish Badiger

At the same time, the budget may not please city dwellers, with commodities such as motor vehicles, alcohol and gold getting costlier. Going by the Comprehensive Traffic and Transportation Plan for Bangalore, the CM proposed a commuter rail system within the city.

He said that the government had sought permission from the Ministry of Railways for undertaking the service from Bangalore to Devanahalli, Anekal, Malur, Ramanagara, Nelamangala and beyond, so that people living on the outskirts of the city would be able to access the Central Business District of Bangalore in a short time.

A project report is being prepared for a Mono Rail or a light rail transport system for two corridors in the cityu00a0-- a 31 km stretch from Hebbal to JP Nagar, and a 9 km Peripherial Ring Road to toll gate along Magadi Road.

This is apart from Namma Metro rail, whose Reach-1 phase-I is expected to be open for commercial operations on April 4 this year. While Phase-I (42.3 km) is targetted to be completed by June 2013, the budget proposed Phase-II (6 lines covering a distance of about 75 km) and the government has approved the project in principle.

Decongesting traffic
The budget proposed separate high-speed lines for the BMTC, and a new project -- a Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) is being considered from Hebbal to Central Silk Board at a cost of Rs 550 crore.

Highlights:

** An elevated road between Minerva Circle and Hudson Circle.

** Flyovers, and an underpass on Chard Road, Fountain Circle, Kanakapura-Outer Ring Road junction and Kittur Rani Chennamma Circle

** Proposal of 10 vehicle parking lots across the city

Water project
A sum of Rs 1,150 crore has been provided to BWSSB to complete Phase-II of Cauvery Water Supply Scheme Stage IV that would provide drinking water to 12 lakh people in the outskirts. The BDA will develop new layouts, providing over 10,000 sites.

J Krasta, co-chairman of ASSOCHAM, said, "The city may have gotten its share, but the government should properly ustilise the allocated funds." He pointed at the fact that over 60 per cent of the funds allocated for city development in the last budget remained unspent.

Some other gifts
u00a0
** An international convention centre near the international airport

** A business park spread across 230 acre at Devanahalli

** Four super specialty hospitals

** Information Technology Infrastructure Region (ITIR) near Devanahalli

Marathon presentation
The budget reading went on for 2 hours and 50 minutes. But he skipped some portions including a fiscal overview of the current year and the road map for the growth plan for the next fiscal year.
u00a0
A source said, "There were still 100 more pages. They had to be cut down at the last minute, as we thought it would be a too long a budget speech."

Itu00a0will burn holes in your pocket for sure!

With the VAT now increased to 14 per cent, the following commodities will be costlier:

** Soaps, cosmetics, confectioneries, ghee, butter, electric goods, automobile spare parts, cement, building materials, granite, marble, timber, plywood,u00a0 scented supari, plastic goods, deodorants, mineral water, watches, mattresses, etc.

** Alcohol will be costlier as the additional Excise duty has been increased to 20 per cent from 10 per cent across all the 17 slabs on liquor.

** Motor vehicles are to be dearer as the cess on motor vehicle tax has been increased from 10 percent to 11 percent.

** Petrol and Diesel continue to attract the highest tax rates in the state compared to other states.

** Jewellery and gold articles will be dearer as the VAT on them is increased from 1 percent to 2 per cent.

** Horse races at the turf club will be costlier as the betting tax has been increased to 8 per cent from 4 per cent.

Farmers' friend
Yeddyurappa utilised the opportunity to score brownie points with the farmers by presenting the first-ever separate farmers' budget.

He joined them in the morning, following a visit to Radhakrishna temple, which is his favourite during the presentation of budget (he has not missed visiting the temple for last five times), and walked to the Vidhana Soudha with them sporting a green shawl on his shoulders.

Later, after presenting the budget in the assembly, the CM, who has taken oath of the office in the name of farmers, visited them at the Freedom Park to distribute copies of the budget among them.

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