WITHOUT much room to take on new infrastructure projects due to the obligation to fund the ongoing mega-projects, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) presented a draft budget of Rs. 8,592 crore for 2022-23 on Monday.
Whilst most of the capital expenditure will be for the ongoing citizenship projects, it has been proposed to develop basic infrastructure in the newly merged 23 villages. The General Body of the PMC had increased its budget by Rs8,370 crore in 2021-22.
“We have presented a realistic budget for 2022-23 with just over 10% increase compared to last year. We had proposed Rs 7,600 crore for 2021-22 and would execute almost 80% of that by the end of March. Rs 8,592 crore has been proposed for the next financial year,” said Municipal Commissioner Vikram Kumar.
The city commissioner said the PMC is conducting mega-projects such as the River Improvement Project, Riverfront Development Project, 24X7 Water Supply Project, flyover and road construction. “We have pledged funding for these projects but have proposed Rs 508 crore for the development of basic facilities in the recently merged 23 villages,” Kumar said.
There are other works including the construction of six overpasses, a river bridge, a road from Balbharti to Paud Road, a tunnel from Pashan-Panchvati to Kothrud, as well as the construction of the Municipal Library on Ghole Road, Kala Academy in Kothrud, Cancer Hospital in Baner and a multispecialty hospital in Warje should be carried out in the next fiscal year, he said.
