Karnataka Budget 2023 Live: Bommai finishes more than 2.5-hr-long speech

CM Bommai said this is the first time after the pandemic hit that the state has reported revenue receipts more than revenue expenditure - by ₹402 crore - and termed this year's budget a "revenue-surplus" one, finishing his two-and-a-half hour long budget speech. 

This was Bommai's second budget as the chief minister of Karnataka and his government's last one before the assembly elections.

CM Bommai on Friday said the government proposed to simplify the Professions Tax Act to provide some relief to the lower income households. 

“It is proposed to raise the tax exemption limit from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 per month for salaried or wage-earning employees,” the chief minister said.

Touching on data security, CM Bommai said the government will construct a cloud-based state data centre with an outlay of ₹590 crore.

A 24x7 Cyber Security Operation Centre (CSOC) will be established to ensure safety of government websites, online services and for data security," Bommai said.

Karnataka has increased the subsidy given under the Nekar Samman scheme from ₹3,000 to ₹5,000. The new textile and readymade garment policy has been revised and will create employment for 44,257 people, Bommai said.

Karnataka has agreed to pay 30 per cent land acquisition cost in the 288-km-long Satellite Town Ring Road project meant to reduce traffic congestion considerably. The construction of the project is pegged to cost ₹13,139 crore, approved by the central government.

The Karnataka government has further approved construction of several highways in the state including Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway, Bengaluru-Ramanagar-Mandya-Mysore Highway, Hubli-Andhra Border Highway, etc.

“The work order for Bengaluru Sub-urban Railway Project between Chikkabanavara and Byappanahalli Corridor-2 Via-duct for ₹860 crore has been issued and the works have been commenced,” a budget document said.

“High Powered Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority is constituted in order to co-ordinate the operations of various transport agencies and to find out the scientific remedies to mitigate the traffic problems of the fast developing Bengaluru city,” it added.

Bommai in his budget speech said Karnataka will increase the concessional diesel limit for fishing boats. A special scheme called Matsyasiri has been devised and tenders have been invited for undertaking dredging works of eight fishing harbours, he said.

CM Bommai said new police stations will be constructed in the state this year, with ₹348 crore granted for the modernization of existing police stations. ₹410 crore has been allocated for construction of prisons, while ₹51 crore will be given for modernization of prisons.

Six hostels will be constructed for the care of orphan girls between ages 18 to 21 years. For the first time in the state, four orphanages are being constructed for orphan boys as well, Bommai said. A grant of ₹2 crore has been allocated for this, he added. 

Bommai said the financial situation of the state is sound and the revenue collection has increased. 

GST collection has increased by 26 per cent. Collection of printing and registration fees has also increased.  Tax collection has also increased by 20 per cent, he added.

Furthering allocation to women empowerment, Bommai announced a loan facility scheme for women at zero interest rate. He added that housewives would receive ₹500 per month subsidy. 

“The Grihini Shakti Yojana will soon be implemented in the state, and ₹10,000 compensation will be given to acid attack victims,” Bommai announced.

A special grant will be provided from the government for the celebration of the Karaga Utsava which is an integral part of the culture and fervour of Bengaluru.

"With the purpose of up-lifting of the social and financial conditions of the Poura Naukararu in the state, our Government has taken a historical initiative of filling up 24,000 vacant Poura Naukararu positions," Bommai said.

A total of ₹46,278 crore has been provided in the budget for women empowerment and welfare, while ₹47,256 crore has been granted for child welfare, CM Bommai said.

The budget allocated ₹350 crore for issuing of free bus passes to female students and a ₹500 subsidy to be given for women workers. Free passes are set to benefit around 30 lakh women, Karnataka BJP said.

250 “She Toilets” will be constructed in heavily populated markets and mega commercial complexes in Bengaluru, Bommai said.

He also said a new bus scheme called ‘Makalla Buss’ will be launched for school and college students, with around 1000 schedules to operate under this scheme across the state.

In the direction of climate control, especially after floods in Bengaluru last year, Bommai has announced a project of ₹3000 crore in collaboration with the World Bank.

Karnataka will provide free coaching for Agniveers in the Indian Army for up to 10,000 youth from the SC, ST and other minority communities.

₹100 crore for the Anjanadri hill in Koppal, which is believed to be the birthplace of lord Hanuman.

For medical education, Karnataka has allocated ₹500 crore to set up a new medical college in Chitradurga. Post-graduate degree courses have been launched at Mandya and Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences, with a new 450-bed hospital in Chamarajanagar to provide tertiary care services.

The CM also announced a hospital on the lines of AIIMS in Raichur, with a super speciality hospital in Kumta, Uttara Kannada district to be established this year.

CM Bommai announced free education in government pre-university and government degree colleges, which is expected to benefit around 8 lakh students.

In the next 2 years, the Karnataka government will undertake comprehensive development and renovation works of temples and mutts with an expenditure of ₹1,000 crore.

CM Bommai said ₹1,000 crore will be released to commence works on the Kalasa-Bandoora Nala Thiruvu Yojane, over which Karnataka is embroiled in a long-standing dispute with neighbouring Goa in relation to the diversion of water from the Mahadayi river.

A conclave - Vishwa Kannada Sammelana - will be organised in Karnataka's Davanagere to introduce and popularise the Kannada language, Bommai said. 

A new Jalnidhi project will be started to raise the ground water level for water conservation by constructing reservoirs on farmers' lands. Under this, in coordination with Narega scheme, farmers are encouraged to build water tanks on their farms, CM Bommai said.

He also allocated ₹75 crores for two projects to develop wells, dams and drains for water conservation in semi-mountainous areas, especially during summer season.

The chief minister directed ₹350 crore for the construction of a five-kilometre elevated road in Bengaluru to further ease traffic congestion. ₹300 crore was further allocated for construction of roads in Bengaluru, while ₹1000 crore was granted for white-topping of 120 kilometres.