Central assistance comes in handy for 2010 projects

NEW DELHI: To push the completion of all Commonwealth Games related projects in the capital, Delhi government allocated Rs 2,105 crore for the
financial year 2009-2010. Presenting the budget, Delhi finance minister Dr A K Walia said that this will include Rs 1,000 crore additional central assistance from the Union government.

Claiming that all the projects would be complete in time, chief minister Sheila Dikshit also said her government is facing no dearth of funds to execute the projects. Walia said that by the end of this year Rs 4,657 crore would have been spent on these projects and so far the central contribution has been Rs 1,750 crore. The total expenditure could touch approximately Rs 6,728 crore.

Earlier in the day, while presenting the budget, Walia claimed that the timely completion would not only contribute to the "successful organisation'' of the Games but would also "add assets'' to the city. He said that the government has appointed consultants to suggest and design the landscapes around the Games venues and also intersections on all major roads connecting the venues.

He added that a polyclinic will be set up at the Games Village by the health department in addition to setting up of a medical facility at each venue and training centre.

The minister also said that the redevelopment of Connaught Place under JNNURM that will cost Rs 253 crore has already started. Delhi government had released the first instalment of Rs 22 crore last year and for the current fiscal, an outlay of Rs 45 crore has been proposed.

In his please-all budget, Walia also allocated Rs 1,524 crore for urban development, the second highest plan allocation after the transport sector. Central government has approved 15 projects for construction of about 65,000 flats worth Rs 1,815 crore as part of Rajiv Rattan Awas Yojna, under JNNURM. He said that about 8,000 flats constructed under this project are ready for allotment.