BMC BUDGET: MULUND GAINS!!
Asia’s richest Municipal Corporation, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), on Monday, February 2019 presented its Annual Budget for 2019-2020. BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta presented the Civic Budget of Rs 30,692.59 cr, an increase of Rs 3,400 cr for the development of mega infrastructure projects to bring about a major expansion in the city. The other highlight of the Budget is that BMC has not burdened Mumbaikars with any taxes, thus bringing relief to Mumbaikars!
Compared to last year, this year, BMC has given a boost to the Annual Budget by 12.60% (i.e. Rs 3,400 cr). This additional increase has been sanctioned for the development of roads and bridges for better connectivity in the city. Rs. 1,600 cr has been sanctioned for the coastal road project, which would help in solving the traffic problems of Mumbai. Rs. 3,323 cr has been sanctioned for the Development Plan (DP), 2034. With paver blocks proving a failure, BMC from this year will replace paver blocks with marble chips for which a budget of Rs. 100 cr has been sanctioned. In addition, BMC has also provided Rs. 14 cr to help the BEST bus services burdened with losses and Rs. 5 cr for the Balasaheb Thackeray memorial.
Speaking about Mulund, the BMC Budget has set aside a huge amount for road and health development. Rs 100. cr has been sanctioned for the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR), the crucial link road connecting Mulund West and East. It may be noted that the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road is the most ambitious project of BMC. The first phase work of 12.20 km has already started. The second phase of this work will start this year. This will include widening of the ROB at Nahur at a cost of Rs. 72.31 cr. Secondly, improvement of 2.8 km road from Oberoi Mall to Film City and Tansa pipeline to Eastern Express Highway at a cost of Rs 149.59 crore. Thirdly, construction of a flyover near Ratnagiri Hotel junction on Film City Road has been proposed.
Similarly, BMC has assigned a good amount for Mulund BMC T-Ward. Rs. 43 cr has been sanctioned to shut down the Dumping Ground and start the scientific processing of waste. The Solid Waste Management Department of BMC T-Ward has been allotted Rs. 1.29 cr for the segregation of waste and to solve the problem of waste generated in Mulund. Rs. 60 cr has been allocated to the Public Health Department of BMC T-Ward. Out of this, Rs. 38.2 crore has been sanctioned for the renovation of MT Agarwal Hospital in Mulund West while Rs. 22.25 cr for Veer Savarkar Hospital in Mulund East. Both these hospitals have been facing multiple problems due to cash crunch but with such huge funds, Mulundkars hope these hospitals undergo a face-lift and give Mulundkars first-grade service.
To make Mulund Swachh and to solve the issue of toilets BMC has allocated Rs 2.50 cr for toilet blocks in the 6 wards of Mulund. Another Rs 65 lacs has been allocated for the Mitha Nagar Project. Rs. 2 cr has been sanctioned for the development of the new Dry Waste Management Processing Centre coming up in Mulund.
In short, the BMC Budget 2019-20 has sanctioned a good amount for the development of Mulund. Home Times believes if the amount is used constructively and all the projects, particularly, Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) and MT Agarwal Hospital, are completed within the stipulated time frame,then the budget is a boon for Mulund!
However, Mulundkars claim since this is the election year, BMC has made tall claims with an eye on votes!
