Farmers Movement Archive

Infra gets a booster shot: Housing budget ramped up 43%

To ensure better infrastructure in Delhi, especially in slums and unauthorised colonies, the state government has allocated ₹5,328 crore for housing and urban development, an increase of ₹1,605 crore from last year, in its budget proposal for 2021-22.Finance minister Manish Sisodia also reiterated his government’s commitment to decongest the city roads, especially the busy Ashram intersection, and listed out proposals for various road infrastructure projects in the budget presented on Tuesday.Also Read: Big push for health in Delhi's budgetThe government has proposed to allocate over ₹600 crore, including ₹85 crore for decongesting Ashram crossing in South Delhi, for road infrastructure projects.Sisodia said the construction work on the underpass and the extension of the flyover at Ashram crossing will be completed by June and December 2021, respectively.The Ashram intersection is among the busiest stretches in the national capital, with the daily traffic volume during peak hours going up to 3.5 lakh vehicles.For its plan to redesign roads, the government has proposed to allocate ₹500 crore. “In addition to the seven stretches (announced earlier), all preparations have been made for the beautification of roads of length 500km and it shall be carried out from this year onwards. I propose an outlay of ₹ 500 crore in the year 2021-22 for the scheme of streetscaping and beautification of roads,” said Sisodia.The construction of two underpass projects at Wazirabad and Azadpur, one pedestrian subway near Gandhi Vihar on the Outer Ring Road and the construction of a bridge on the Najafgarh drain at Basaidarapur will be completed by May 2021, said Sisodia.Also Read | Delhi Budget 2021: Allocation for urban infra up, govt to work on decongestionThe PWD is working on the construction of five new projects in west and north Delhi to address issues pertaining to growing traffic. The government is still working on three projects -- the East-West Corridor (Tikri and Anand Vihar), the North-South Corridor (from Signature Bridge to airport) and an outer road running parallel to the Yamuna. Sisodia said these projects are awaiting UTTIPEC’s approval.Sarvagya Srivastava, former engineer-in-chief of Delhi PWD, said, “All these projects are critical for decongesting the city. These have been in the pipeline for some time now, it is a good move that the government has getting the work started on these projects.”Urban developmentTo ensure the development of proper infrastructure, including sewer connection, roads, parks, Wi-Fi facility, in all unauthorised colonies, the state has allocated ₹1,550 crore in its budget for 2021-22.While presenting the budget, Sisodia said since 2015, when the AAP came to power for the first time, development work in unauthorised colonies has picked up pace. “Since 2015, the work on providing the above-mentioned facilities in every unauthorised colony and slum has been done rapidly. So far, construction work has been completed or is in progress in 1,345 out of 1797 unauthorised colonies of Delhi,” said Sisodia.He also said the work on ensuring piped water supply in all unauthorised colonies is moving at a fast pace. .The government has set aside ₹3,274 crore for various Delhi Jal Board (DJB) schemes for the financial year 2021-22. Of this, ₹600 crore is for the government’s subsidy scheme to provide 20 kilolitres of free water, which benefits about six lakh people every month. Sisodia said that 1,622 unauthorised colonies have been covered in the network of pipeline water supply.

Hindustan Times

10-03-2021

Delhi