NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister and Finance Minister Rekha Gupta presented the state’s budget for the fiscal year 2025-26, totaling ₹1 lakh crore—a 31.5% increase over the previous year.
This marks the first budget by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi after 26 years, following their recent electoral victory.
Key Allocations and Initiatives:
- Infrastructure Development: The budget earmarks ₹28,000 crore for infrastructure projects, aiming to enhance the city’s urban landscape and connectivity.
- Education: An allocation of ₹750 crore has been made to provide free laptops to 1,200 students who pass class X, demonstrating the government’s commitment to digital education. Additionally, ₹100 crore has been allocated for setting up new ‘CM Shri schools’ across the city to strengthen the education sector.
- Women’s Welfare: The ‘Mahila Samruddhi Scheme’ receives ₹5,100 crore to support eligible women with monthly payments. Furthermore, ₹210 crore has been allocated to provide nutrition kits and a ₹21,000 allowance for expecting mothers.
- Healthcare: An additional ₹2,144 crore is designated to extend ₹5 lakh insurance coverage under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, aiming to bolster health security for residents.
- Environmental Initiatives: The Yamuna River cleanup project is allocated ₹500 crore, with plans to decentralize 40 Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) to ensure only treated water enters the river. An additional ₹500 crore is set aside for the repair and upgradation of STPs, along with ₹250 crore for replacing old sewer lines to improve sanitation infrastructure.
- Public Safety: Over 50,000 CCTV cameras will be installed across the city to enhance women’s safety and overall security.
- Public Amenities: ₹100 crore is allocated to establish 100 Atal Canteens, aiming to provide affordable meals to citizens.
Chief Minister Gupta emphasized that this budget heralds an era free from “corruption and inefficiency,” focusing on comprehensive development and welfare. The budget session is scheduled from March 24 to March 28, 2025, with provisions for extension if required.
