However, there was no mention of the timings for the transport facilities, which ought to be augmented so citizens could travel back home.
CM Siddaramaiah presenting his 15th budget at Vidhan Soudha Bengaluru on February 16th
The Karnataka budget presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday, 16 February, had a number of citizen-centric proposals like the nightlife extension.
This time, it was not only for Bengaluru but also for 10 other city corporations, in order to give a boost to trade and commerce in the state.
“Shops and establishments will be allowed to open till 1 am in Bengaluru and 10 other corporation areas in order to further trade and commerce,” Siddaramaiah read out.
However, there was no mention of the timings for the transport facilities, which ought to be augmented along with the nightlife extension so that citizens could travel back to their homes.
Experts said that with the nightlife extension, the authorities should ensure that a set of other facilities like transport — such as Metro trains and other public conveyances like BMTC buses — and security also need to be made available beyond 1 am.
Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah also said the state government was headed towards a record tax collection during 2023-24 with a tax collection of ₹4,300 crore. This was ₹1,000 crore more than the year 2022-23.
“Our tax collection is expected to reach ₹6,000 crore in the year 2024-25, which will be achieved by preventing leakages in the tax collection system,” Siddaramaiah stated in his budget speech.
The Karnataka budget also mentioned proposals to develop Bengaluru into a world-class city, as the ruling Congress government has conceptualised “Brand Bengaluru”.
The Karnataka government introduced major reforms in various sectors to improve the quality of life of people and to attract investors, said Siddaramaiah in the budget speech.
This year, the government would focus on augmentation of resources, reducing traffic congestion, construction of quality roads, supply of clean drinking water, better public transport, and creating a clean and beautiful Bengaluru, he added.
Meanwhile, in order to make Bengaluru a landmark tourist destination, a 250-metre-high skydeck is being planned in the city.
“Internationally renowned architects have been invited to prepare a novel design for constructing a 250-metre-high skydeck in Bengaluru. It will become a landmark tourist destination in the city,” said Siddaramaiah.
Meanwhile, with summer round the corner, power outages are expected to affect the workforce — especially in the IT industry — in the city.
“To avoid both scheduled and prolonged electricity outages during maintenance of transmission lines, mobile or vehicle-mounted 66 kV & 110 kV sub-stations will be purchased by KPTCL,” the chief minister stated in his budget speech.
The budget said the government was going to work on digitalising property tax records of all 20 lakh properties in the limits of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
Digital e-Khata and property tax payment details will be made available to the owners from 2024-25.
Besides that, Kaveri and e-property software will be integrated across the state in order to prevent illegal registration of properties in urban areas and to simplify the property registration and Khata entries, the chief minister stated in his budget speech.
He added: “Mapping and reassessment of properties will be undertaken with the help of 3D drone technology for effective recovery of property taxes and other charges and to prevent leakages in tax collection.”
The state budget also proposed to set up 2,500 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode.
“Besides, 100 charging centres will be set up through power supply companies at a cost of ₹35 crore,” the chief minister stated.
In order to generate interest among students for stargazing and astronomy, telescopes will be provided to 833 schools and PU colleges at a total cost of ₹3 crore, according to the budget speech.
A Climate Change Experience Centre for school children will also be started at a cost of ₹10 crore to bring awareness in children about the effects of climate change.
Meanwhile, a Sports City with modern and international standards will be established over 70 acres of land available in the Bengaluru North Taluk in PPP mode.
State-of-the-art sports complexes of international standards, including multi-sport facilities will be constructed under PPP in four places of Bengaluru.
Rifle-shooting associations, Hockey Karnataka, amateur boxing associations, archery associations, athletic associations, kayaking and canoeing academies, the Cycling Academy in Vijayapura, and fencing associations will be provided with a total grant of ₹12 crore to promote various sports in the state and to encourage sportspersons.
A state-level tournament for sportspersons and a mini-Olympics for athletes below the age of 14 years will be organised every year to provide the best competing opportunities, said the budget.
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