BMC unveils a budget of Rs 45,949 crore, Rs 22,647 crore for projects

Photo for representational purpose

UPDATES

• BMC has decided to set up the Mumbai Parking Authority (MPA) and appointed agency for supplying external manpower of private professionals from Transport, Urban Planners & Designers, Policy researchers, Experts and GIS technicians for the said work
• The Goregaon - Mulund link road (GMLR) is fourth major link, connecting the eastern suburbs and the western suburbs, being implemented in four phases. In first Phase, 50 per cent work of approach Roads for Nahur ROB (Excluding Railway span) is completed
• The base construction cost of Coastal Road Project is Rs 8,429.44 crore and the total cost inclusive of taxes, supervision charges, consultancy charges and others is Rs 12,950 crore.
• Citizens by using the chatbot can avail the facility to apply for shop licence, to pay various charges, to get information of BMC activities through their Whatsapp 24x7 without visiting BMC offices
• BMC has launched a Whatsapp chatbot under no. 8999-22- 8999 on January 14
• Citizens can make payment of Property Tax Bill and Water Tax Bill through Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS)
• BMC has started the process of empanelment of Urban Space Designers who would study and rework on the roads, foot paths and community spaces to increase the ‘Ease of Walking'
• This year onwards BMC will be focussing on ‘Ease of Living' for it's Citizens in addition to ‘Quality of Living'

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) presented its Budget on Thursday and allotted Rs 45,949 crore for financial year 2022-23, which is 17.7 per cent higher than the previous year. Rs 22,646 crore was allocated for project works (capital expenditure).

For 2021-22, the BMC had a budget of Rs 39,038 crore, of which Rs. 18,751 crore were kept aside for projects and of which Rs 8,579 crore has been spent till January-end.

The municipal commissioner I S Chahal presented the Budget to the standing committee on Thursday. It is considered as an election budget as the corporation elections will be announced soon.

In the budget, the civic body announced 100 per cent relief from payment of property tax for the flats measuring up to 500 square feet of carpet area.
"About 16,14,000 citizens will get 100 per cent property tax relief. The amount of exemption to citizens is to the tune of Rs 462 crore per annum," Chahal said in his budget speech.

The BMC had set aside R18,750 crore for projects in 2021-22, almost double than the previous year. While the coastal road, city roads, bridges exceeded the allotted budget and needed additional funds, several other big-ticket projects like development plans, sewage treatment plants, Deonar waste-to-energy plant, Goregaon Mulund Link Road have hit hurdles due to various permissions, oppositions.

The civic body also presented Budget estimates of Rs 3,370 crore for education for 2022-23.

Here are some highlights from Education Budget:

40 YouTube channels

BMC has launched 40 YouTube channels in 4 languages, for different standards and mediums, under the programme of "Education for All Initiative‟ to provide free and quality education at home for the students.

Increase in number of students

In the academic year 2021-22, the total number of students in all mediums of BMC schools has increased by 26,449. Free education is being imparted by 6,831 teachers to 2,42,899 students of 964 primary schools of 8 mediums viz: Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu, English, Telugu, Tamil and Kannada.

BMC CBSE schools affiliation

Considering the positive response of local citizens under BMC jurisdiction towards CBSE board curriculum, the civic body has started 10 CBSE board schools from Nursery to Class 6 in the academic year 2021 -22. At present 12 schools of other boards of which 11 are CBSE and 1 ICSE board school is functional.

Music education- Rs 14 lakh

In order to provide smooth online music education to the students of BMC schools, many educational videos of singing, playing of various instruments, dance and drama were made and available to them via YouTube. During the Covid - 19 pandemic, Music Academy has made available "Digital Platform‟ for the students and teachers to perform their art by conducting online musical programmes.

Tinkering Labs - Rs 29 lakh

Tinkering Labs are established in 25 BMC secondary schools through which students can prepare technical models with learning by trial and error method with the help of modern means of Information Technology. This will develop thinking ability, technical skills and personality of the students.

50 more E- libraries- Rs 10 lakh

E-Libraries are functioning in 25 BMC secondary schools with set of four computers with internet facility. Teachers were issued login/password through which students can freely access 800 reference books in Marathi/ Hindi/ Urdu and English languages related to syllabus as per their subject and Classes. These will be started in 50 more primary schools in the year 2022-23.

Digital classrooms

1,214 BM classrooms out of 7,934 are digitalized in the year 2018-19. In addition to this digitalization of 1,300 more classrooms with LED interactive panels are in progress. It is proposed that in the year 2022-23, 1300 more classrooms will be digitalised.

Budget provision (Primary) : Rs 23.25 crore

Budget provision (Secondary) : Rs 3.76 crore

Tabs for students-Rs 7 crore

The process of providing tabs with updated content of syllabus to 19,401 students of Class 10 of BMC schools for the academic year 2021 - 22 has begun. These TABs includes facilities like Internet, Wi-Fi, updated Content, Learning Management System (LMS), long life battery, updated software and TAB protection cover.

Fixed deposit for girl students

In the year 2021 - 22, under the scheme of Girls Attendance Allowance, 15,352 girls of Class 8 are being issued Fixed Deposit Certificates of Rs 5000 through Indian Post Office. This welfare scheme will be continued in the year 2022 - 23.

Budget provision (Primary) : Rs 7 crore

Budget provision (Secondary) : Rs 47 lakh

Polymer desk benches

It is proposed to procure approximately 10,000 polymer desk benches for BMC school students in the academic year 2022- 23

Budget Provision (Primary) : Rs 2.79 crore

Budget Provision (Secondary) : Rs 50 lakh

Free BEST buses for students

Under the RTE Act 2009 free bus service of BEST was started from 2017 - 18 for Classes 1 to 10 of municipal students in school uniform from nearest bus stop of their residence to school. With exception to the Covid-19 pandemic period, during which online classes were conducted, 20,000 students have availed the benefit of the scheme every year. This scheme also will be continued in next financial year.

Budget Provision (Primary) : Rs 3 crore

Budget Provision (Secondary) : Rs 1.25 crore

IGCSE and IB schools in BMC

From the academic year 2022 - 23, one school of each of IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) affiliated to Cambridge University and IB (International Baccalaureate) will be started to provide education to the students of BMC schools.

Budget Provision: Rs 15 crore

Astronomy labs in civic schools

About 25 astronomical laboratories will be established in BMC schools. These laboratories will be provided with 4 telescopes, spectroscope, lunar calendar and 1 adaptor for astronomical photography.

Budget provision: Rs 75 lakh

The Talking Walls

While explaining a concept from school curriculum to the students, a picture (visual teaching aid) is shown related to it, which helps them understand the concept quickly. The inner compound wall of the school building will be painted with the message of moral values, educational & social responsibility for the students.

Budget provision: Rs 50 lakh

Vlogs for students

Vlogs will be made containing information about school activities and posted on social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter etc

Budget provision: Rs 1 crore

Digitisation of school records

In the year 2022 - 23, it is proposed to preserve the old documents in digital form and bind the original documents, thus permanently preserving the old ones which are in tattered condition. It will help us on retrieving the old documents whenever needed.

Budget Provision (Primary): Rs 30 lakh

Budget Provision (Secondary): Rs 10 lakh

(With agency inputs)