‘Budget proof of commitment to improve roads, drains, sewerage’

New Delhi: Chief minister Rekha Gupta criticised the previous AAP govt for degrading the infrastructure and civic services in the city and accused it of diverting govt funds to the "liquor mafia, Delhi Jal Board and PWD contractors". In her budget speech, Gupta also announced the "end of the era of corruption, mismanagement and inefficiency of the AAP govt".
Citing the overall outlay of Rs 1 lakh and the doubling of capital expenditure from Rs 15,089.3 crore last year to Rs 28,115.5 crore this year, Gupta said, "This budget of Viksit Delhi is clear proof of our commitment to improving roads, drains, sewerage and education facilities."
She alleged at a press briefing on Tuesday that the previous govt had reduced the most important allocations, indicating a lack of resources. "The irony is that if the previous govt hadn't ignored central govt schemes for political reasons, there wouldn't have been a shortage of funds for health, urban housing, water and sewerage," she claimed. The common people of Delhi had to bear the brunt of this stubbornness, she said. who were given empty mohalla clinics in the name of health services, she said.
Power minister Ashish Sood said, "In just 33 days of governance, CM Gupta and our govt have a budget outlay of Rs 1 lakh crore, which is 31% more than last year's budget. A key focus is the significant increase in capital expenditure, with Rs 28,000 crore earmarked for creating productive assets such as roads, bridges, flyovers, public transport, electricity infrastructure, schools and healthcare facilities."
He added, "This budget also places a strong emphasis on Delhi's youth and future generations. Innovative initiatives in education, such as CM Shri Schools, Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Vidya Shakti Mission, Rashtraneeti initiative and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Language Labs, are also planned."
Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said the budget fulfilled the promises made in the party's election manifesto. "This includes schemes like Mahila Samriddhi Yojna, doubling of insurance under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna and enhancing women's safety with 3.3 lakh CCTV cameras. The DUCIB allocation has also been tripled and will result in upliftment of slum areas."
South Delhi MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said Gupta had, through the budget, given concrete shape to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that the budget would bring the promises made in BJP's Sankalp Patra to fruition. This will make the lives of Delhiites easier, he claimed.
Bidhuri said that in the last decade, AAP had not only derailed the capital's development but also completely destroyed its infrastructure. "This budget will reinvigorate the ruined city and turn it into a developed Delhi. It will also fulfil all the expectations that the public had from BJP after the Lok Sabha and assembly elections."