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Delhi govt presents 78,800 crore budget for 2023-24 after a day’s delay

ByAlok KN Mishra
Mar 22, 2023 12:41 PM IST

The AAP government’s 9th consecutive budget focuses on enhancing the national Capital’s infrastructure, sanitation, transportation facilities besides the usual focus on health and education

The Delhi government on Wednesday presented 78,800 crore budget estimates for the financial year 2023-24 in the legislative assembly, with focus on enhancing the national Capital’s infrastructure, sanitation, transportation facilities besides the usual focus on health and education.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and finance minister Kailash Gahlot arrive for the budget presentation at the legislative assembly on Wednesday. (Sanjeev Verma / Hindustan Times)
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and finance minister Kailash Gahlot arrive for the budget presentation at the legislative assembly on Wednesday. (Sanjeev Verma / Hindustan Times)

In 2022-23, the Delhi government had presented 75,800 crore budget, and the revised estimates for 2022-23 is 72,500 crore.

It is the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s 9th consecutive budget, and was presented by finance minister Kailash Gahlot.

“The economy is coming out slowly from Covid challenges, the Delhi government has successfully tackled the challenges thrown by Covid. The per capita income of Delhi is third highest in the country. The per capita income at current prices is likely to grow at 14.18%. In 2015-16 the size of the budget was 41,129 crore. The revised estimate for fiscal year 2022-23 is 72,500 crore,” Gahlot said

The theme of this year’s budget is “Saaf Sundar aur Aadhunik Dilli”. Since coming to power, the AAP has been presenting theme based budgets, the first budget was themed on ‘Swaraj’. Former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who has presented 8 consecutive budgets of the AAP government, could not do so this year due to his arrest in an excise case. The portfolio of finance has been allocated to Gahlot.

“The budget is designed for public welfare and the Delhi government is committed to zero tolerance to corruption. The government has completed some key infrastructure projects in past 8 years which have transformed the outlook of the capital. The Ashram flyover and underpass development has made movement of nearly 400,000 vehicles easy. The metro network has almost doubled in last 8 years. The next year is very important for Delhi which is hosting G-20,” Gahlot said.

Gahlot made reference to jailed former colleague Manish Sisodia and hoped that he will come back soon and join the Cabinet.

The current budget presentation followed an unprecedented political drama and blame-game between the Centre and the Delhi government over some aspects of the budget, which were resolved in around 24 hours.

Gahlot said the overall economic situation in the Capital had recovered faster than the national average following the pandemic. According to documents seen by HT at constant prices, the per capita income in Delhi is projected to rise from 2,52,024 in the 2021-22 financial year to 2,71,019 in the 12-month period ending on March 31. The per capita gross state domestic product (GSDP) is expected to reach 6,52,649 crore, or, in per capita terms, breach the 3 lakh mark. The GSDP growth rate was at 9.18% over the 2021-22 fiscal.

“The Arvind Kejriwal government has taken a number of steps to reinvigorate the economy. In the years 2021-22 and 2022-23, a sharp recovery of real GSDP of Delhi with growth of 9.14% and 9.18% respectively is based on a low base effect and inherent strengths of the economy,” Gehlot added.

According to the Economic Survey tabled in the assembly on Monday, the tax collection in Delhi registered a 36% growth in 2021-22 (provisional) compared to the negative growth of 19.53% in 2020-21 due to the pandemic. The survey said all components of tax revenue positively increased in 2021-22.

Delhi’s per capita income is projected to rise by 7.54% this fiscal and its economy by 9.2% by the end of the current financial year.

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