Up Rs 426.52 cr, Chandigarh pie in Budget gets 7% bigger

Tribune News Service

Dushyant Singh Pundir

Chandigarh, February 1

In a boost to the UT Administration, there has been a 7% increase in the allocation for Chandigarh in Union Budget 2024-25 in comparison to the estimates for the previous fiscal. The Centre has set aside a sum of Rs 6,513.62 crore for the UT in the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament today.

Major allocations include Rs 1,093.70 crore is for the energy sector, Rs 1,031.98 crore for education, Rs 875.54 crore for housing and urban development, Rs 823.21 crore for police, Rs 804.77 crore for health and Rs 455.80 crore for the transport sector. Additionally, various other sectors will benefit from an allocation of Rs 1,428.62 crore. The total allocation is Rs 426.52 crore more than the budget estimates for the past year, which were Rs 6,087.10 crore, registering an increase of 7.01 per cent.

However, the Centre has reduced the allocation under the capital expenditure. Compared to the budget estimates of Rs 722 crore in 2023-24, the allocation for the 2024-25 is Rs 655 crore.

Of the total budget, the administration has got Rs 5,858.62 crore under the revenue head, which is Rs 493.55 crore more than the previous year. Under the capital head, the UT has been allocated Rs 655 crore, a decrease of Rs 67.03 crore. Funds under the capital head are meant for development works and asset creation, while allocation under the revenue head are spent on salaries and other recurring expenses.

The Administration had sought nearly Rs 7,150 crore from the Centre for 2024-25 for various projects, including power, education and transport, but it got Rs 637 crore less than the demand.

“This budget reflects the government’s commitment to fostering a comprehensive development, addressing crucial sectors and enhancing the overall well-being of the residents of the Union Territory of Chandigarh,” said the UT Finance Secretary, Dr Vijay N Zade.

The following are various fields for which provisions have been made in the budget allocation.

Power and renewable energy: Transmission and distribution of power, new and renewable sources of energy, promotion of model solar city programme and construction work at the Power Department.

Education: Modernisation and purchase of equipment, development of infrastructure for NCC, providing amenities/services, graduate courses and modernisation and construction of a new polytechnic, government polytechnic for women and industrial training institute.

Health services: Health services, upgrade of 50-bed Community Health Centre to 250-bed hospital, strengthening of 50-bed poly clinic, rural subsidiary health centres and urban subsidiary health centres, other health care schemes, AYUSH homoeopathy and Ayurveda, construction of regional trauma centre, mental health institute and the Government Rehabilitation Institute for Intellectual Disabilities.

Welfare of women and children: Renovation/additions/ construction of government buildings, home for the old and destitute, protection centre for runaway couples, creches for the children of working mothers, setting up of UT Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005, etc.

Road and transport: Purchase of new buses, replacement of condemned on and upgrade of bus stand, computerisation of Chandigarh Transport Undertaking, construction of a link road and purchase of video coach buses for intercity transport.

Urban development: Provision for land acquisition and survey, construction and other infrastructure development, dam across Sukhna Lake and 24x7 water supply pan city etc.

Welfare of differently abled and aged: National Family Benefit Scheme, Implementation of National Social Assistance Programme, Implementation of Disability Act/Programme, subsidy on petrol/diesel to physically challenged persons and unemployment allowance to persons with disability.

Solar plant scheme to benefit residents

Residents will benefit from the roof-top solar plant scheme. A whopping 10 million households will be able to get up to 300 units free every month. — Jatinder Malhotra, President, City BJP

No effort to curb rising inflation

The inflation rate for essential commodities is 7.7% at present and it continues to rise. In such a scenario, it has become difficult for an ordinary citizen or a labourer to feed his family. — Pawan Kumar Bansal, Congress leader

Reflects commitment to development

It reflects the govt’s commitment to overall development, addressing crucial sectors and enhancing the well-being of UT residents. — Dr Vijay N Zade, Finance Secretary, UT

Nothing new for citizens

The budget has nothing new. Instead of creating a hype on issues such as Ram Mandir, the core issues need to be addressed. — Prem Garg, senior AAP leader

No relaxation in income tax limit

No major relief has been given to the common man. No relaxation in income tax limit has been given, while corporate tax has been reduced to 22%. — Sachit Jaiswal, Excise and taxation advocate

A growth-oriented budget

Today’s Interim Budget seems to be growth oriented as allocation for infrastructure has been increased by 11%. Two new rail corridors will boost trade and industry. — Charanjiv Singh, president, Chandigarh Beopar Mandal

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