GMDA TABLES MAIDEN BUDGET
GURUGRAM: Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday presided over the second official meeting of the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), where the first ever Budget of the public agency was presented. A financial outlay of Rs 950 crore has been planned by officials of the Authority.
A bulk of the revenue will be spent to improve the infrastructure of the city, mostly in Old Gurugram.
One of the major projects for which public money has been allocated includes construction of a medical college. With a view to decongesting areas of Old Gurugram, there is also a plan to build an underpass at Lieutenant Atul Kataria Chowk.
A sizable amount of the Budget has been earmarked for enhancing water supply, infrastructure, satellite imaging and transportation in the city.
Preparations have already begun to create infrastructure for the city bus service, expected to start from August.
The GMDA budget comes only days after the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) tabled its Budget. One of the primary criticisms of MCG budget included allocating money to development works that will be managed by GMDA.
It is important to note that GMDA was set up to streamline services in the city, which is run by multiple agencies.
Besides initiating urban infrastructure development, GMDA will also have powers in real estate matters in the city.
The Authority can also acquire, lease, hold, manage and dispose of land, and will have the right to acquire land for implementation of plans for infrastructure development. In addition to acquisition of land, GMDA will also be responsible for compensation procedures and getting the land notified by the state government.
GMDA has also been mandated to collect external development charges (EDC) and will also have the powers to levy the duty on transfer of immovable property situated within the notified areas of the city.
At present, land related affairs in Gurugram are handled by Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA).
For long, investors and residents have complained that most of the infrastructure and land related affairs of the city are still being handled in Chandigarh, instead of Gurugram.