Revenue surplus Budget for 6th consecutive year

DELHI BUDGET 2006-07

The Delhi government on Thursday presented a revenue surplus Budget for the sixth consecutive year projecting a surplus of Rs 3,563 crore compared with Rs 2,648 crore projected for 2005-06. The fiscal deficit for 2006-07 has been pegged lower at Rs 1,080 crore compared with Rs 1,466 crore this fiscal.

The total budgetary expenditure of Rs 13,345 crore for 2006-07 includes Rs 5,200 crore as plan outlay, Rs 8,075 crore for non-plan expenditure, and Rs 70 crore for centrally-sponsored schemes.

With tax collection under the value-added tax regime registering an increase of 31 per cent during the first ten months of the current fiscal, the government is eyeing a tax revenue of Rs 8,884 crore, a 12 per cent increase over the revenue of Rs 7,946 crore in 2005-06. This is despite the government reducing duties on items like LPG and exempting items like cancer drugs from tax.

Presenting the Budget amidst slogan shouting by the Opposition, Finance Minister AK Walia said the proposed expenditure would be met through revenue receipts of Rs 10,201 crore, central taxes of Rs 325 crore, central grant of Rs 503 crore and current year's excess small savings loan of Rs 2,059 crore.

With an eye on the Commonwealth Games in 2010, the government has allocated 27 per cent of its total plan outlay of Rs 5,200 crore for transport, followed by Rs 834 crore for water and sanitation, and Rs 691 crore for education.

Spelling out the government's plan regarding infrastructure, Walia said an advance payment of Rs 209 crore would be made to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to ensure timely completion of Phase II. A new bridge at Wazirabad at a cost of Rs 464 crore has also been assigned to Delhi Tourism & Transportation Development Corporation for smooth flow of traffic towards Trans Yamuna.

Construction of a fly-over at Mukerba Chowk (GT Road-Outer Ring Road crossing) at a cost of Rs 195 crore will start in the next financial year.

Some of the other major projects which would be completed before 2010 include construction of a link road connecting National Highway 24 to Lodhi road, an elevated West-East corridor, connecting Connaught Place to East Delhi, fly over on Bahadurshah Zafar Marg and fly over at Apsara border.

Two more inter state bus terminals, in addition to the existing three, will be set up at Dwarka and Narela on BOT basis.

The existing fleet of Delhi Transport Corporation will be replaced with low floor buses in a phased manner.

An outlay of Rs 72 crore has been proposed for sanitation services in unauthorised colonies, while the government is also planning to add 1,900 new hospital beds in 2006-07.

A gas-based combined cycle project of 330 Mw capacity is proposed to be set up as Phase II of the Pragati power station. The government also proposes to develop a 'mini-India tourism and culture park' in Delhi in 150 acres.