With Smart City on mind, NDMC proposes Budget 2017-18

With the ‘Smart City’ project yet again topping the agenda along with installation of LED streetlights, e-governance, automated parking facility and free wi-fi, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on Friday presented its Budget for 2017-18 on Friday.

NDMC Chairman, Naresh Kumar, while presenting the Budget, projected a total receipts of Rs 3,627.08 crore against a total estimated expenditure of Rs 3,621.62 crore. ‘Smart City’ has been the focus of the NDMC Budget for the third consecutive year with the 2015-16 and 2016-17 Budget focusing on initiatives to bag the smart city tag. 

“NDMC has established a wholly owned Public Limited Company namely, New Delhi Municipal Council Smart City Limited (SPV). The SPV has received a grant of Rs 194 crore from the Urban Development Ministry and Rs 56 crore from NDMC, thereby bringing the seed capital to Rs 250 crore. I further propose to transfer Rs 44 crore to the SPV in the current financial year and Rs 50 crore in the year 2017-18,” Kumar said in his Budget speech.

NDMC’s ‘Technology Innovation Portal’ where public may submit innovative ideas and solutions for the improvement of civic services, digital interactive information panels to disseminate information online at various locations in NDMC areas and remote information kiosks to act as points of delivery are among the projects listed under the smart city agenda. Two previous project — installations of LED streetlights and smart poles with CCTV cameras and wi-fi access points — have been “repackaged” with an allocation of Rs 30 crore. The same was announced in the Budget for 2015-16 and was included in last year’s Budget as well.

For the public health department, five residential colonies, Jor Bagh, Pandara Park, Bapa Nagar, Kaka Nagar and Golf Links will use latest scientific methods for segregation of waste at source. “Recycling and composting of organic waste would be undertaken in the year 2017-18 to make the colonies zero waste colonies to maximum possible extent,” said Kumar while announcing the Budget. “Three more Mechanical Sweepers of appropriate capacity will be procured to extend mechanical sweeping on major roads in this financial year,” added the chairman.

Kumar also said: “I propose the year 2017-18 to be the year of good governance through intervention of smart technology. E-governance and M-governance would be the cardinal instruments to ensure good governance. I wish to make NDMC areas a better livable, workable and enjoyable place. I wish to make NDMC areas accessible to all.”

Elaborating a road map to achieve it’s target, Kumar said, Budget 2017-18 envisages to increase the equity, efficiency and effectiveness in a transparent manner through intervention of technology to ensure good governance. Thus the Council is focusing on engaging with citizens through the mobile app NDMC 311, through which feedback has been collected from public.