Delhi budget to drill a hole in people's pockets

New Delhi, Mar 23: Hosting the Commonwealth Games may be doing great things for the image of Delhi but it is surely taking the toll on the Delhiites' pockets as the Budget presented on Monday, Mar 22 announced a worrisome hike in taxes on almost all items.

State finance minister AK Walia raised the Value Added Tax (VAT) to 20 per cent from the existing 12.5 per cent to finance an additional spend of Rs 1,100 crore for the upcoming CWG scheduled to begin in Oct 2010.

Besides the rise in VAT that will make items like mobile phones more expensive, taxes on LPG, diesel and CNG were also increased.

Following are the highlights of the Delhi Budget 2010:

- Rs 4,224 crore allocated for improving transport, out of which Rs 2,019 crore has been earmarked to modernise the existing Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC)

- Urban development projects get Rs 1,471 crore for roads, construction of foot-over bridges and street scaping and lighting

- Rs 1,122 crore is the propose expenditure on education

- Rs 1243 crore has been proposed for expenditure on health

- Rs 807 crore for social welfare projects such as old age pension schemes, homes for disabled people, 'Ladli' scheme for the girl child

- Rs 1,500 crore went to water and sanitation projects

OneIndia News