Will Bommai's Budget be a boon or bane for common man?

BMTC waits for more buses...& funds

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Mobility forums in the city have demanded an allocation of Rs 2,950 crore in this year’s budget to improve public transportation. The Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike (BBPV) has urged CM Basavaraj Bommai to allocate an adequate amount citing that more buses mean more revenue.

With the extra money allotted, the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will be able to cover the cost of a demand which has remained longstanding – free rides for those from the marginalised communities.

Along with this, the corporation will be able to recruit more drivers and conductors by lifting the current freeze on hiring. Further, they will be able to deploy 900 idle buses of the BMTC fleet onto city roads. The bus fleet which currently has close to 6,500 buses can be increased to 15,000 buses.

If the requested amount is allotted, a portion can also be used to introduce initiatives that will promote public transport and reduce the ownership of private vehicles, in turn helping resolve infamous issue of traffic congestion. The BBPV has been consistently campaigning to attain their goal since the start of February and has received support from thousands of citizens.

Shaheen Shasa, a member of the forum, said that other states like Punjab and Tamil Nadu have introduced travel schemes for women using public transport. A study by the Tamil Nadu Planning Board has revealed that women, after the introduction of the scheme, were able to save between Rs 756 and Rs 1,012 in a month.

She noted that this will help women among many spheres reducing dependability on family members for mobility requirements, increase their participation in the economy, help them earn a higher disposable income and create more room for opportunities of learning and networking. There is a similar need to provide access to other marginalised communities such as senior citizens and transgenders.

“The city today has 1.3 crore population and 1.03 crore vehicles. This situation is untenable and unsustainable. As traffic congestion grows, the government keeps implementing a network of flyovers and road widening and elevated corridors in different parts of the city, even when it does not solve congestion. There is a real need to increase the BMTC fleet from 6,500 to 15,600 for its population size. This approach to transport planning will bring down not only congestion, but also emission, pollution, fuel consumption, accidents, and loss of greenery,” a release from a recent meeting of appeal with BBPV, Jhatka.org and others said.

Tax collection soars, so do expectations

With just t wo days left for the state budget, it is expected that Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will present a record budget of Rs 3 lakh crore this year. In 2022-23, the Bommai had presented a budget with an outlay of Rs 2,65,720 crore. On Friday, the Chief Minister is expected to present the last budget of the incumbent BJP government at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.

As per reports, all departments, which are major sources of revenue for the state exchequer, including transport, commercial taxes, stamps and registration department have added a huge amount of revenue to the state government treasury. As per official sources, over Rs 60,000 crores of commercial tax has been collected in the last 9 months which is expected to cross Rs 70,000 crore mark by the end of March 2023.

The Karnataka economy has displayed a speedy recovery from the pandemic times, which has resulted in a good amount of tax collection. Overall tax collection is estimated to be higher by Rs 22,090 crore by the end of March 31. Besides, officials say the state expects Rs 4,813 crore more than the estimated revenue from devolution of taxes from the central pool and Rs 2,000 crore more from grants-in-aid.

Chief Minister Bommai while preparing for the upcoming budget said, "Karnataka continues to be the state with the highest growth rate of 30 per cent. This year’s remarkable mop-up is due to measures undertaken for reforms, focused vigilance, recovery in economy and better compliance by taxpayers," he said.

Considering the visible growth in tax collection, several departments have already brought their expectations to the notice of the state government. While BBMP) has requested funds of Rs 2100 crore, Bus Prayanikara Vedike has asked for an allocation of Rs 2950 crore towards improvement of BMTC transport facilities.

A fund of Rs 40,000 crore have been requested by the Agriculture sector, Sarvodaya Rural development and other welfare departments have asked for an allocation of Rs 75000 crore.

Students ask for ‘pro-edu' policies

All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) on T