The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruled Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has overlooked the directives of both the central and state governments while allocating funds for city traffic during the budget for the current financial year 2011-2012. In fact, the corporation has not even followed its earlier resolution to improve the city traffic and transport system.
Sources said that in March 2010, the NMC had received directions from both central and state government to give importance to city traffic. Subsequently, the NMC explored the possibility of setting up a City Traffic Fund (CTF) to boost efforts at creating a better public transport system. Its plans also included upgrading existing traffic signals, installing new signals, CCTVs and signboards and improving parking system. The NMC had also passed a proposal to this effect in its special general meeting on March 19, 2010.
As per the proposal, the CTF could be funded through income from parking charges, city transport service (Starbus), advertising revenue from bus stops and income from anti-encroachment drives, outdoor advertising policy etc. Besides, it had also agreed to divert road tax collected from state transport department to traffic management. Revenue collected from road cuttings (by various agencies) will also be utilised for the development of the city traffic.
The NMC had also planned to open a separate bank account in the name of CTF and use all the revenue collected in it only for the improvement and maintenance of city traffic system.
This year's NMC budget, however, exposes how serious the corporation is about improving city traffic. The NMC has earmarked Rs 60 lakh for painting zebra crossing, which is missing in almost all important and busy junctions. The truth is that out of Rs 60 lakh, Rs 50 lakh is saved for clearing last year's unpaid bills. Similarly, Rs 1 crore has been sanctioned for improvement of road conditions. Of this amount, Rs 90 lakh will be paid to clear the outstanding dues of 2010-11. Likewise, Rs 50 lakh dues will be cleared from Rs 60 lakh sanctioned for improvement of parking facility across the city.
Since many traffic signal poles are more than two decades old, an amount of Rs 2.50 crore has been sanctioned but Rs 2.40 crore will be used to clear last year's dues. The bottom line is that the NMC has provided only Rs 55 lakh for the city traffic works this year.
The NMC is not short of dreams though and hopes to collect Rs 5 crore from road tax, Rs 2.5 crore from parking, Rs 5 crore from advertisements, Rs 5.50 crore from bus royalty and Rs 4.50 crore from road cuttings. NMC chief accounts officer Madan Gadge admitted that a major chunk of the funds sanctioned this year will be diverted to clear the outstanding dues. He, however, pointed out that required funds would be made available for improvement of city traffic scenario and revised budget of municipal commissioner is yet to come.
Sources said that in March 2010, the NMC had received directions from both central and state government to give importance to city traffic. Subsequently, the NMC explored the possibility of setting up a City Traffic Fund (CTF) to boost efforts at creating a better public transport system. Its plans also included upgrading existing traffic signals, installing new signals, CCTVs and signboards and improving parking system. The NMC had also passed a proposal to this effect in its special general meeting on March 19, 2010.
As per the proposal, the CTF could be funded through income from parking charges, city transport service (Starbus), advertising revenue from bus stops and income from anti-encroachment drives, outdoor advertising policy etc. Besides, it had also agreed to divert road tax collected from state transport department to traffic management. Revenue collected from road cuttings (by various agencies) will also be utilised for the development of the city traffic.
The NMC had also planned to open a separate bank account in the name of CTF and use all the revenue collected in it only for the improvement and maintenance of city traffic system.
This year's NMC budget, however, exposes how serious the corporation is about improving city traffic. The NMC has earmarked Rs 60 lakh for painting zebra crossing, which is missing in almost all important and busy junctions. The truth is that out of Rs 60 lakh, Rs 50 lakh is saved for clearing last year's unpaid bills. Similarly, Rs 1 crore has been sanctioned for improvement of road conditions. Of this amount, Rs 90 lakh will be paid to clear the outstanding dues of 2010-11. Likewise, Rs 50 lakh dues will be cleared from Rs 60 lakh sanctioned for improvement of parking facility across the city.
Since many traffic signal poles are more than two decades old, an amount of Rs 2.50 crore has been sanctioned but Rs 2.40 crore will be used to clear last year's dues. The bottom line is that the NMC has provided only Rs 55 lakh for the city traffic works this year.
The NMC is not short of dreams though and hopes to collect Rs 5 crore from road tax, Rs 2.5 crore from parking, Rs 5 crore from advertisements, Rs 5.50 crore from bus royalty and Rs 4.50 crore from road cuttings. NMC chief accounts officer Madan Gadge admitted that a major chunk of the funds sanctioned this year will be diverted to clear the outstanding dues. He, however, pointed out that required funds would be made available for improvement of city traffic scenario and revised budget of municipal commissioner is yet to come.
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