GHMC's Major Budgetary Plans Still on Paper

In an embarrassment, Major proposals announced in the Budget 2015-16 of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation have turned non-starters.

HYDERABAD: In a major embarrassment for the civic body going to polls next month, major proposals announced in the Budget 2015-16 of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation have turned non-starters. Ambitious programmes such as Strategic Road Development Programme (SRDP), development of multipurpose halls, market yards, grave yards, night shelters for the homeless, 1,500 reverse osmosis water plants, 200 e-libraries, 1,000 modern toilets, free wi-fi and smart address system are gathering dust with nearly three quarters of the financial year nearing completion.

Except for the launch of one or two schemes like 2-bedroom houses and Rs 5 food scheme with an eye on GHMC polls, no other project has been initiated since March this year.

GHMC’s budget for 2015-16 was prepared with an outlay of Rs 5,550 crore, with an aim to develop Hyderabad as a world-class city with international standards of roads, sanitation and public amenities. The civic body had earmarked Rs 3,818 crore for capital expenditure, the main components of which include development of roads (Rs 1,956 crore), amenities and services (Rs 605 crore), Slum-free Hyderabad (Rs 537 crore),  providing public conveniences (Rs 283 crore), Green Hyderabad (Rs 150 crore), environment, heritage (Rs 130 crore) and Smart Hyderabad City (Rs 90 crore).

Based on a comprehensive transportation study and on consultation with experts from transportation sector, Rs 1,900 crore was earmarked for Strategic Road Development Programme aiming to build skyways, develop major corridors, major roads, construct flyovers and grade separators across the city. But the project is yet to take off. 

For providing basic amenities and services to make Hyderabad a livable city, Rs 605 crore was earmarked but not even 5 per cent of the allocation has been spent so far.

RO water plants at 1,500 locations in the city costing Rs 50 crore have been planned but not a single plant has been set up. Besides, Rs 37 crore was marked for initiatives like making the city beggar-free, providing night shelters for the homeless and others but not much headway has been made on these plans.

The GHMC wanted a special thrust on creating modern public conveniences and construct multipurpose halls in all GHMC circles for weddings and other functions but the projects are yet to take off. To encourage sports, playgrounds and gyms, Rs 60 crore was allotted but not 10 percent of the amount has been utilised.

Similar is the case with the plans for modern markets (Rs 70 cr), graveyards (Rs 50 cr) and dhobi ghats (Rs 10 cr).

Towards creation of more lung space and reduction of pollution an amount of Rs 150 crore was allocated for Telangana Harita Haram (THH) but it failed to take off in the city due to failure of monsoon. Under THH, 50 lakh seedlings were to be planted in the city in 2015.

Under Smart Hyderabad project, as many as 200 eLibraries with computers and other electronic equipment, newspapers and magazines were to be established at 200 places at a cost of Rs 25 crore but not a single eLibrary could be set up so far.

The civic body also proposed to introduce a smart address system to give citizens easier eight-digit addresses which could be accessible on mobile devices for which Rs 5 crore was allotted but the project is yet take off.

Similarly, GHMC announced a Rs 10-crore allocation for providing wi-fi free in frequently-visited  places of the city and it also is yet to see the light of the day.

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The New Indian Express
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