Odisha's capital expenditure up 25%

Share of capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure increased from 11.3% in 2011-12 to 12.76% in 2012-13

Capital expenditure in Odisha has logged growth of 25.05 per cent in 2012-13 to reach Rs 5622.18 crore as against Rs 4496.08 crore in 2011-12 though it fell short of the budgeted figure of  Rs 7042.93 crore.

The share of capital expenditure (excluding loans and advances) as a percentage of total expenditure has increased from 11.30 per cent in 2011-12 to 12.76 per cent in 2012-13.

"Spending on infrastructure projects by some engineering departments like housing & urban development has looked up in 2012-13 and this has contributed to enhanced capital expenditure. However, there is still a need to step up capital expenditure substantially. Given the limit of fiscal deficit at three per cent of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and the emergence of fiscal surplus, there is fiscal space available to increase capital outlay from the present level of around two per cent to five per cent of  GSDP”, said a finance department official.