MUMBAI: Praveen Pardeshi , Mumbai's municipal commissioner presents his first civic budget for 2020-21.

Here are the key points from the budget speech:

*BMC will withdraw Rs 4,380 crore from reserve fund to meet its expenses in coming financial year.

*The BMC will also provide self-propelled scooters for differently-abled persons (with side wheels). For the procurement of the same, Rs 70,000 or 85% cost of the scooter or whichever is less will be provided to differently-abled beneficiaries, Pardeshi said in the civic budget. “Total beneficiaries are 511,” he said, adding that Rs 5 crore was proposed for the project in 2020-21.

*BMC provides 100% concession in bus fare to blind and differently abled in non AC buses and Rs 6 crore is proposed for the same for 2020-21.

*BMC provides 50% concession in bus fare to senior citizens travelling in non AC buses and Rs 3 crore is proposed for 2020-21. The RFID cards are provided by the BEST.

*Capital expenditure on road increased by 76% and water by 69%

*BMC has proposed to design and build new roads above 60 feet with separate utility duct corridor to prevent frequenters trenching.

*Budget provision of Rs 503.51 crore proposed for Gargai project.

*BMC proposes to allow women to use toilets in all BMC offices, free of cost.

*The BMC has prepared traffic signage plan for major roads for 200km in Mumbai through traffic consultants as per the Indian Road Congress specification. The tender was invited for upgradation of traffic signage on roads and work is in progress. The estimated cost of work is Rs 35 crore.

*BMC is expecting a rise in revenue by Rs 600 crores by providing conditional FSI to regularise areas like, flowerbeds, deck lifts, which are currently being unauthorisedly used in many cases.

* With BMC revenue coming under stress the budget has emphasized on collection of at least 10 per cent of Rs 15,000 crore from outstanding property tax.

* BMC has proposed to beautify the Worli fort by providing decorative illumination with energy efficient LED which can be viewed from the Worli sea link.

* BMC has decided to increase urban forest cover by adopting Miyawaki method of plantation.

* Rs 1,500 crore has been allocated to cash strapped BEST. It runs a fleet of 3,400 buses and ferries more than 34 lakh commuters in Mumbai daily.

* A dedicated department for tourism has been proposed in the budget

* Rs 1,600 crore has been allocated for road improvement for the year 2020-21, 9 per cent more than last year's

* BMC has proposed an increase of 5 per cent in fees for issuance of trade license, market license and birth certificate

* Rs 14637.76 crore has been set aside for the development projects for improving Mumbai's infrastructure.

* Rs 300 crore has been allocated to Goregoan Mulund Link Road project.

* Rs 2000 crore has been allocated for the Mumbai coastal road project. The 9.98km Coastal Road would link Marine Drive to the south end of the Bandra Worli Sea Link.

* Size of the budget is Rs 33,441 crores which is higher as compared to last year's financial budget which was Rs 30,692.59 crores.

* Education budget was presented by joint municipal commissioner Ashutosh Salil to the education committee.

* The BMC has allotted Rs 2,944.59 crore to the education department in its 2020-21 budget, an increase of Rs 210.82 crore compared to the last fiscal.

* Among the new projects lined up for the financial year 2020-21 are the opening of an ICSE and CBSE affiliated school, delegation of powers such as appointment of data entry operators, paying fees for competitive exams, disposal of scrap material and approve bills up to Rs 10,000 to the schools head teacher and financial aid for the first 25 SSC rank holders in BMC schools to pursue an undergraduate degree.

* The BMC has also proposed to set up a digital telescope and mini observatory to give students a first hand experience of space science. A budget allocation of Rs 26 lakh has been made for the same.

* Hand sanitizers in 17 specially abled students schools will be provided at a cost of Rs 1.84 crore.

