UT share Rs 860 cr; focus on health, education and urban development

As per Budget details, important thrust areas of the next year’s plans are education (20%), medical & public health (22%), urban development (19%), transport (12%), housing (5%) and social security, social welfare including empowerment of women (3%).

There is a also good news for GMCH-32 as Rs 50 crore has been kept for the completion of the pending Block E besides Rs 5 crore has been kept to begin the construction of its mental health institute. Director-principal of GMCH, Atul Sachdeva said that with the budget allocation, the college would be able to start E-block by the year end. UT has got additional Rs 50 crore to purchase roughly 280 buses, which are expected to be received in the next financial year.

School education seems major thrust area as additional amount of Rs 50 crore has been kept for electronic teaching aids in all classrooms up to class VIII besides constructing new toilet blocks and ramps and to provide additional sports facilities in the grounds wherever sufficient space is available.

In higher education sector, Rs 20 crore has been kept for the construction of hostels mainly for girls in government colleges and to complete the commerce College building.

In sports, Rs 10 crore has been kept for construction of Sports Complex at Manimajra for which the Municipal Corporation has also agreed to give 10 acres for the purpose.

UT Engg wing to usher smart Chandigarh

The Engineering Wing of UT has been provided with Rs 108 crore against Rs 75.00 crore last year. This has been done to spruce up implementation of intelligent traffic Control System, modern bus shelters, beautification of entries, lighting up of Capitol Complex, restoration of some iconic buildings and possibly the starting of the New Secretariat Building on the adjoining plot of Police Head Quarter.

Non-plan budget allocation hiked by 6%

With allocation of Rs 2,971.47 crore, UT has seen an approximately 6% increase under its non-plan head, which is mainly for dispersing salaries and other employment related benefits. Infrastructure development also comes under the plan head. The non-plan budget allocation in 2014-15 was Rs 2,730.25 crore.