Roads, traffic, bridges get the lion’s share in BMC budget.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in its budget for 2015-16, has promised focus on flyovers and roads with higher allocation of funds for traffic operations, roads and bridges, allocating Rs. 3857.53 crore for the same, which is 36.25 per cent higher from the last year's allocation. No new infrastructure projects were announced this year.

Of its Rs 33,514.15 crore budget for 2015-16, the civic body has projected a total capital expenditure of Rs. 11,836 crore, which is 7.56 per cent higher than the current year’s budget estimates for the same.

A major chunk of the capital expenditure, Rs. 3,200.35 crore, has been allocated to the roads and traffic department, almost 38.59 per cent higher than last year's capital expenditure budget estimates.

While the Goregaon Mulund Link Road, which will improve east-west connectivity, has been allocated Rs. 300 crore, the long-awaited Coastal Road project proposed to connect Nariman Point and Kandivali has been allocated Rs. 200 crore.

The civic body has also promised smoother roads this year, allocating Rs. 1,854.69 crore, which is more than half of the roads and traffic department funds, for asphalting roads.

Breaking with tradition of concentrating only on motorised traffic, BMC has this year introduced the 'pedestrian first' policy, aiming to create even footpaths with 'uninterrupted' width of 1.5-3 metres depending upon the width of the road.


THE INDIAN EXPRESS