Bengaluru: The State government on Friday approved the revised budget estimates of Rs. 5,411 crore submitted by the special team constituted by the BBMP Administrator T.M. Vijaybhaaskar. Incidentally, BBMP council had earlier presented a budget with an outlay of Rs. 6,848 crore. This represents a cut of nearly 21 per cent, which is likely to impede the civic body from taking up new works. The budget was now restricted to “unavoidable expenditure and maintenance” such as salaries, solid waste management, and maintenance of parks, playgrounds and schools among others.
“New works have all been cut out from the budget, as the BBMP does not have funds to take these up,” Vijay Bhaskar the BBMP interim administrator said.

However, criticizing slashing of the budget, the former Mayor B.S. Sathyanarayana termed the move an election gimmick and pointed out that even essential works have been affected.

The civic body recently witnessed protests by the contractors’ association over delay in clearing pending bills, after a contractor committed suicide allegedly due to financial distress, what with his bills amounting to over Rs. 1 crore pending with the BBMP.

“Another proposal for Rs. 1,000 crore for roadworks to be executed by the Public Works Department will also be submitted shortly,” Mr. Vijaybhaskar said. The BBMP is already executing works worth Rs. 1,000 crore under the Nagarottana Scheme. It is learnt that projects that are included in the this additional proposal include those mentioned in the 2015–16 State Budget, such as widening of eight roads (Ballari Road, Jayamahal Road, Bannerghatta Road, Tannery Road, Dinnur Road, Varthur Road and Subratho Mukharji Road), development of road junctions, construction of grade separators and railway underpasses and overpasses.

He defended the decision to revise the budget by pointing out to the huge outstanding loans, pending bills and ongoing works. This alone, he pointed out, came up to Rs. 7,000 crore.