Chennai Mayor R Priya presented the DMK-led Greater Chennai Corporation’s Budget 2023-24 on Monday. In the Budget, the civic body focused on roads, stormwater drains, solid waste management and education.
The budget presented on Monday was the second Budget for DMK's youngest and first Dalit woman Mayor R Priya from Chennai.
Some of the top highlights of the Budget:
- The Greater Chennai Corporation allocated Rs 1482.7 crore for the construction of Storm Water Drains to mitigate floods
- It allotted Rs 881 crore for enhancing bus routes under Singara Chennai 2.0
- The GCC allotted Rs 102.5 crore for constructing new bridges and maintaining the existing ones
- The GCC also allocated another Rs 260.5 crore for solid waste management
- The Chennai Corporation will cover first-year tuition fees for their students who get admission into prestigious institutions after qualifying in competitive exams
- The students who clear Joint Entrance Exam (JEE), Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) and National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) will be eligible for the aid from this year
- The Corporation school students from Class 9-12 will be selected for providing training for competitive examinations on the basis of an entrance test
- A model school will be set-up at the cost of Rs 6.26 crore at a government higher secondary school
- The Corporation allotted Rs 77 crore for converting open areas into parks and playgrounds
- The Mayor will address the issues of residents of all 15 corporation zones under 'Makkalai Thedi Mayor' scheme
- The councillor's ward development funds will be increased from Rs 35 lakhs to Rs 40 lakhs for the year 2023-24
The civic body also expected revenue of Rs 1680 crores through property tax collection in the year 2023-24, said a report on The New Indian Express.