No taxes, focus on pending projects

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has spared the residents of New Delhi by not hiking any taxes or introducing new ones for the next fiscal year. HT reports.

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has spared the residents of New Delhi by not hiking any taxes or introducing new ones for the next fiscal year.


The agency presented its budget for the upcoming financial year 2012-13 on Friday.

In her first budget speech, NDMC chairperson Archana Arora also abstained from announcing any big project and instead concentrated on carrying forward the projects that were announced in the past years.

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These projects include 24x7 water supply, electricity augmentation, completion of automated multi-level parking at Baba Kharak Singh Marg, renovation of Shivaji Stadium and completion of the Connaught Place restoration project.

In her speech, Arora announced that “the budget for 2012-13 is aimed at asset creation in the form of subways and better roads which will be beneficial to NDMC both in terms of civic infrastructure and increasing receipts in the long term”.

In the next fiscal year, the agency plans to collect Rs 259.98 crore as property tax, Rs 268.89 crore as licence fee, Rs 702.53 crore from power supply
and Rs 113.60 crore from water supply.

Arora said a detailed roadmap for the revamp of electrical system has been prepared and “that the NDMC has no plans to recommend a hike in water or power tariffs”. The agency is also working towards ensuring uninterrupted water supply in the next five to eight years, she said.

For the upgradation and renovation of markets, the NDMC plans to take up work in eight more markets. There is also a proposal to provide space for ATMs in all its markets in the next fiscal.

In a move aimed at helping the elderly, the NDMC has also proposes to enhance old-age pension from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 for those who are above 70 years.