The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on Friday presented its Budget for 2017-18 with ‘Smart City’ project yet again topping the agenda, along with installation of lED streetlights, e-governance, automated parking facility and free WiFi.
In his maiden Budget as NDMC chairman Naresh Kumar projected a total receipts of Rs 3,627.08 crore against a total estimated expenditure of Rs 3,621.62 crore. ‘Smart City’ has been the focus of NDMC Budget for the third consecutive year with the 2015-16 and 2016-17 Budget focusing on initiatives to bag the smart city tag.
“The NDMC has established a wholly owned Public limited Company namely, New Delhi Municipal Council Smart City limited (SPV). The SPV has received a grant of Rs 194 crore from Urban Development Ministry, and Rs 56 crore from NDMC, thereby bringing the seed capital to Rs 250 crore. I further propose to transfer Rs 44 crore to the SPV in the current financial year and Rs 50 crore in the year 2017-18,” Kumar said in his Budget speech.
NDMC’s ‘Technology Innovation Portal’ where public may submit innovative ideas and solutions for the improvement of civic services, digital interactive information panels to disseminate information online at various locations in NDMC areas, and remote information kiosks to act as points of delivery are among the projects listed under the smart city agenda.
Two previous project installations of lED streetlights and smart poles with CCTV cameras and WiFi access points have been “repackaged” with an allocation of Rs 30 crore. The same was announced in the budget for 2015-16 and included in last year’s Budget as well.
In the financial year 2017-18, the NDMC will raise municipal bounds. “NDMC smart city would raise funds of Rs 500 crore by issuing municipal bonds to finance smart city proposals. For the public health department, five residential colonies, Jor Bagh, Pandara Park, Bapa Nagar , Kaka Nagar and Golf links will use latest scientific methods for the segregation of waste at source. Recycling and composting of organic waste would be undertaken in the year 2017-18 to make the colonies zero waste colonies to maximum possible extent,” said Kumar while announcing the Budget.
“Three more Mechanical Sweepers of appropriate capacity will be procured to extend mechanical sweeping on major roads in this financial year,” said the chairman.
Under its environmental sustainability, intensive plantation drives will be continued and to do a green survey from third party to assess the present status of greenery in NDMC.