AMC projects Rs 876 cr revenue

The draft budget of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) for 2005-06 was presented by municipal commissioner Anil Mukim here on Wednesday.

The municipal corporation has projected a revenue of Rs 876 crore for 2005-06.

Stressing on the need for development, municipal commissioner Anil Mukim said: "We have formed a three-pronged strategy for Ahmedabad.

He added that steps will be taken to meet all the growth programmes set by the corporation.

He stressed on the need to take up measures for urban development and to make the city more greener. He also stressed on health programmes.

In the hospital schemes, the municipal corporation has decided to hold free check-ups, camps for pregnant women and free availability of gynecologists in its 47 health centres.

"Health and education is directly proportional to economic growth of the state," Mukim added. He raised concern over the rapid growth of population and said that the population of Ahmedabad was likely to touch 70.8 lakh in 2021.

Mukim, in his budget speech, stressed on AMC's commitment to make Ahmedabad a mega city.

Many new projects were announced in the budget like roads projects, bridge projects, solid waste management projects, compressed natural gas (CNG) bus service.

He stressed upon the development and modernisation of hospitals and medical facilities in state. On the Sabarmati riverfront project, Mukim said the government has already handed over the project to a private company.

In the Budget, the municipal corporation has suggested to come up with more CNG buses running on city roads by March.

When asked about the pollution level in the city, Mukim said, " We have to follow the Supreme Court guidelines and will be implementing all the guidelines of Supreme Court to control the pollution level in city."

AMC is planning to build more dividers on roads to streamline the traffic during office hours especially is old city areas.

On the development of the city, Mukim said: "In order to make the city greener and free from visual pollution, we have lined many new big projects for the beautification of the city. Soon we are going to start a drive to clean hawkers and unauthorised business establishments."

"We will demolish all the illegal establishments in the city," Mukim said.