Look what the city got: Rs 1,900 cr from the govt

What’s in store? Multi-level parkings, new medical colleges, Blackberrys for judges and slum upgradation to name a few

DILIP PATEL

Looking at the size of the funds allocation this financial year, there’s lot more in store for the city. The state government has earmarked Rs 1,900 crore in 2010-11 for improving services in Ahmedabad. The money is to be used for projects spanning all sectors under a plan that aims to change the way the city looks and its citizens live.
The focus this year will be on slum upgradation and urban development. State Finance Minister Vajubhai Vala said, “Approximately Rs 2,000 crore has been allocated this year. 2010-11 will focus on slum upgradation. We want to achieve the target of providing housing facility to one lakh slum dwellers.”
Urban Development Minister Nitin Patel said the BRTS, the biggest project of 2009 has been a great success and thus, more funds will go into extending the services “according to the share in government funds”.
POLICE (HOME DEPARTMENT): Rs 183 CRORE
A new scheme, ‘Gaurav Senani’ (police aide) will be launched to generate posts in the department. A Home Guard Bhavan will come up in the city for Rs 42 lakh. The Sabarmati Central Jail will get 400 new cells at a cost of Rs 9 crore.

ROADS AND BUILDINGS: Rs 66 CRORE
Rs 5.48 crore has been allocated for Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar metro link. Three new bridges will be built on the Sarkhej-Gandhinagar highway. Rs 7 crore will be spent on a mini-theatre, lab and a hostel for women at L D Engineering College campus.

JUDICIARY: Rs 40 CRORE
Of this Rs 12.25 crore will go into constructing new sessions and city civil court. The 30 bungalows for judges in Bodakdev will be renovated. Judges will get new cars (allocation: Rs 3.36 crore) and 42 Blackberry phones (Rs 15 lakh) from this.

HEALTH: Rs 249.55 CRORE
The funds will be directed at adding more facilities and upgrading existing ones and establishing more medical colleges and hospitals. A new building will come up at the Civil Hospital campus at a cost of Rs 57.87 crore.The New Civil Hospital will be renovated under the Phase II. Phase I saw completion of one block. The Ashmita Hall & OPD complex here will have an audio-video system and new electrification. Rs 24 crore have been set aside for construction of medical colleges and hospitals. The BJ Medical College will get Rs 37 crore for development. A government medical college at the cost of Rs 25 crore will come up near the High Court.

SLUM UPGRADATION AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT: Rs 300 CRORE
There are many ambitious plans. For starters, the city plans of multi-level parking complexes with private participation. These parking lots are to come up in Navrangpura and near Municipal Market, Vastrapur Lake and Fun Republic.