Games budget: Govt short of Rs 6,000 crore

The Delhi government has prepared the final assessment of the budget for Commonwealth Games projects,after projects under all agencies,and it is falling short of Rs 6,000 crore.

The Delhi government has prepared the final assessment of the budget for Commonwealth Games projects,after projects under all agencies,and it is falling short of Rs 6,000 crore. The government will be putting in a request with the Union government,requesting for a part of this money.

We will present the detailed assessment to the chief minister. We will also request the Union government give us at least some part of this money, Finance minister Dr A K Walia said.

Several projects still in pipeline will be hit badly by the paucity of funds. The East-West Corridor,Ring Road Bypass and the DTCs plan for setting up bus depots are some of the projects that will be taken off the list of Commonwealth Games projects. Even the Metro lines being constructed by DMRC are no longer on this list. The Delhi government will have to arrange for funds for these projects on its own. It has already spent nearly Rs 2,000 crore on Commonwealth Games projects. Walia,however,assured that no project is being frozen for lack of funds.

Only projects that are directly connected with the Games are being taken into consideration at present, a senior official said.

The Delhi governments revenue collection is also short by Rs 1,500 crore. The government had expected to get nearly Rs 4,900 crore from the JNNURM but the mission has not sanctioned any of the governments Commonwealth projects. We have not taken a loan for last 2-3 years. But in the present situation,it looks unlikely that we can proceed without one, a senior official said.

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