Navi Mumbai civic chief presents budget of ₹3,455.45 crore

Focus to be on health, education sectors; no increase in taxes, but civic body plans to expand base of property tax collection

February 17, 2019 12:50 am | Updated 12:50 am IST - Navi Mumbai

Navi Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Dr. N. Ramaswami on Saturday presented a civic budget of ₹3,455.45 crore for 2019-20.

Apart from the opening balance of ₹910.15 crore, from the revised budget estimates of ₹3,671 crore of 2018-19, the administration has estimated income of ₹2,545.49 crore from property tax, water licensing and advertising fees. It has estimated an expenditure of ₹3,454.73 crore, thereby leaving ₹91 lakh as the closing balance. Dr. Ramaswami said the budget adds value to every department, with a focus on health, education, and maintenance of the existing amenities.

Generating income

He said, “We have not increased property tax or water charges, but our aim is to levy them from more people. People found guilty of using illegal water connections will be charged accordingly, and we will also identify properties which are not being taxed.” The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) will use the 360-degree Light Detection and Ranging Technology (LIDAR) survey to collect data of all open properties and buildings so that no property is left untaxed.

Ad revenue

Advertisements on public toilets, highways, underpasses and flyovers are estimated to earn the corporation ₹7.52 crore. NMMC also plans to sell advertising space on hoardings under a public-private partnership. Till November 2018, the NMMC had collected ₹346.79 crore property tax and expects to take the figure to ₹550 crore by March 2019. For 2019-20, the expected income from property tax is ₹570 crore.

Around 188 nurses and lab technicians will be hired in NMMC hospitals. Around 150 candidates have been shortlisted for the posts through an online exam. Around 56 types of equipment and 88 types of instruments worth ₹30.11 crore have been purchased for NMMC hospitals and tendering for more equipment worth ₹18.17 crore is in the pipeline, Dr. Ramaswami said.

CBSE schools

“Budget cannot be compromised when it comes to health and education sector. Hospitals will get new equipment and staff, while the schools will also be digitalised this year. NMMC has started its first CBSE schools, and the response we got is tremendous. Close to 1,600 students are on the waiting list for the Koparkhairne school, and 700 for the Nerul school. We are planning ways to increase the capacity of schools,” he said.

A ₹10-crore medical store is planned at NMMC Hospital in Vashi. The civic hospitals have also been equipped with oxygen gas pipeline.

To reduce the maintenance cost and to ensure a longer life for amenities, the NMMC has planned a comprehensive maintenance scheme. “Usually, a different contractor is chosen for every project. This time we are working on annual maintenance contracts (AMC) for both zones. One contractor will be responsible for maintaining amenities in one zone, may it be medians, roads or playgrounds. Usually, we spend close to ₹60 crore on annual maintenance. With AMCs, we hope to reduce the expense by at least ₹10 crore and also save time on the tendering process,” the civic chief said.

Other amenities

A proposal for 30 electric buses, and charging stations for them, is also in the pipeline. Around 20 ‘smart she toilets’ exclusively for women have been planned. The facilities will also have space for breastfeeding and diaper changing, and sanitary napkin vending machines.

Dr. Ramaswami has also proposed a science centre to be developed near Wonder Park in Nerul.

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