Delhi bags 27% more this Budget, infrastructure gets biggest share

Infrastructure and development in Delhi got a boost on Thursday with the Union Budget including a Rs 200 crore increase in funds from last year's Budget for Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM). In all, the Delhi government received a 27 per cent increase from the previous year — Rs 1,143 crore for the 2013-2014 compared to Rs 900.

"The increase in JnNURM funds from Rs 500 crore to Rs 700 crore will let us implement more infrastructure projects in the city," Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said.

She said of the Rs 243 crore increase in allocation, Rs 200 crore was for JnNURM.

"Taxes on big companies and very wealthy people and no pressure on the common man is an excellent step. This is a women-oriented budget with the FM announcing a Nirbhaya fund and a bank exclusively for women," she said.

Under JnNURM head, allocation for Rajiv Awas Yojana increased to Rs 80 crore this year, compared to the Rs 5 crore in the revised 2012-2013 budget. "The submission on Urban Infrastructure Governance has been increased from Rs 350 crore to Rs 470 crore. Rs 5 crore has been increased under Housing for Urban Poor," she said.

In recent times, Dikshit has repeatedly requested an increase in the share of Central taxes, which since 2001 has remained stagnant at Rs 325 crore in the form of a grant from the Finance Ministry. "I believe our demand has now been sent to the Finance Commission for recommendations," she said.

The allocation under normal central assistance has also increased from Rs 281.75 crore to Rs 309.92 crore. The Union Budget also included Rs 10 crore, for the first time, under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. Also, assistance under National Social Assistance Program was increased from Rs 48.60 crore to Rs 54.60 crore.

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