NDMC budget: Old wine in new bottle

Projects envisioned in 2009 cornered a major share of the allocations marked for development in the NDMC budget for 2013-14, signifying a huge backlog of incomplete works in the balance sheets.

Projects envisioned in 2009 cornered a major share of the allocations marked for development in the NDMC budget for 2013-14, signifying a huge backlog of incomplete works in the balance sheets.

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In fact, the New Delhi Municipal Council’s budget looks like an edited version of the announcements made in 2009, a year before the city hosted the Commonwealth Games. Pending projects such as the Connaught Place redevelopment plan, the Shivaji Stadium redevelopment plan and the Khan Market makeover made their way into the budget again.

By the admission of chairperson Archana Arora, the civic council did not announce any big projects because it wanted to channel all its energies towards completing the ongoing works.

Several fundamental hurdles remained in the way of projects, as deadlines had to be reset time and again. The Khan Market multi-level car parking project, which is pending for the past several years, is yet to be allotted land by the (Land and Development Office).

“We have requested for the land required to build the multi-level car parking project from L&DO. Meanwhile we’re consulting with the local market associations to get their views as well,” said Arora.

Shivaji Stadium, which was expected to be used for the Commonwealth Games, also figured on the list as it was yet to be inaugurated formally.

Upgradation of municipal markets, which was also announced in last year’s budget, made its way again into the budget outlays.

The council had announced CCTVs for Connaught Place to strengthen security.