What one can expect from BBMP budget this year

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) budget for the year 2018-19 will be presented on Wednesday by Tax and Finance Standing Committee chairman Mahadev M.  

The budget may be prepared with an eye on the Assembly elections and the size of the budget is expected to be Rs 10,000 crore. The budget is likely to focus on the middle-class.

The white-topping (concretising) of 150-km of city roads announced in the state budget, development of 25 roads under the TenderSURE project and construction of helipads in eight zones may also figure in the budget.

This time, welfare programmes will be given more importance. The Social Justice and Welfare Standing Committee has requested funds for distribution of 1,000 Pink Autos and Taxis for women and to increase subsidy given to a single house from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Distribution of solar panels to houses of scheduled  castes, tribes and backward classes are in the scheme of things.

The Education Standing Committee has requested scholarships of Rs 25,000 and  Rs 35,000 respectively  to  be given to 100 students who have scored the highest marks in SSLC and PUC exams, Rs 4 crore for setting up multi-gyms at BBMP school playgrounds, Rs 75 lakh to organise a kabaddi tournament, and Rs  3 crore for a lecture programme from resource persons in schools and colleges.

The Public Health Standing Committee has constituted a plan to give bonds to male and female babies born at BBMP maternity hospitals. The first child will be given a bond worth Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000. When the beneficiary turns 18, the guardian will be paid a minimum of Rs 1 lakh. BPL card holders are eligible for this facility.

The budget may also have schemes like increasing medical assistance, free stents to five heart patients in each ward, free treatment at dialysis centres and 100 bike ambulance services.