Home ›› 18 Jun 2022 ›› Nation
The proposed budget of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) for the financial year 2022-23 has been announced for an amount of Tk 1,007 crore estimating an equal income and expenditure.
Chairman and Mayor of the Standing Committee on Finance and Establishment of RCC AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, officially announced the budget at a press conference held at the City Hall of Nagar Bhaban at 2 pm on Thursday.
Members of the Standing Committee on Finance and Establishment and 22nd Ward Councilor Abdul Hamid Sarkar Tekon, Panel Mayor-2 Rajab Ali, Panel Mayor-3 Tahera Khatun Mili, Secretary Md Mashiur Rahman, Budget cum Accounting Officer Shafiqul Islam Khan and Chief Engineer Shariful Islam were present during the press conference.
Earlier in the morning of the same day, a special general meeting of the city corporation unanimously approved the revised budget for the fiscal year 2021-2022 and the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2022-2023.
At the press conference, Mayor Liton said that the budget target for the financial year 2021-2022 was Tk 1,070 crore whereas the revised budget stands at Tk 769 crore. The implementation rate is more than 71 per cent.
The mayor also noted the features of the proposed budget as development-oriented. About Tk 800 crore development work will be implemented in the next financial year.
No new increased taxes have been imposed in this budget. The corporation plans to increase its revenue by levying arrears of taxes, levying taxes on all newly constructed establishments as per the existing rules and expanding its own source of income.
Importance has been given in the budget for the development of roads and waste management in the city. Special allocations have been made in this budget for the maintenance of roads along with the development of infrastructure.
Emphasis has been placed on the development of marginal communities, development of parks, religious places of worship, development of educational institutions and bringing RCC under various modern technologies and increasing accountability.
Mosquito eradication and the development of the healthcare system for the prevention of dengue and water-borne diseases have been given importance.
The city mayor further said that he has been working for almost four years to fulfil his election promise to change Rajshahi. Once the proposed budget is implemented and the ongoing development work is completed, the Rajshahi metropolis will be seen in a new light.
In addition to infrastructure development, business, trade, industrial investment growth, employment, education, health, environment, entertainment and all other areas will move forward.
The mayor also talked about three new proposed projects awaiting governmental approval.
Highlighting the ongoing development activities under the Integrated Urban Infrastructure Development Project, RCC Mayor Liton said that work orders worth Tk 2,931 crore have already been issued.
The overall progress of the ongoing work under the project is 55 per cent complete. The remaining work is expected to be completed within the next financial year.
The tender process is underway for the construction of multi-purpose flyovers at Vodra, Shaheed AHM Kamaruzzaman Chattar, Barnali, Natun Bilsimla, Bahrampur, Rajshahi Court and Natunpara Railway Crossings.
Under the Integrated Urban Infrastructure Development Project of Rajshahi metropolis, the development work of 44 cemeteries and Eidgaons of the metropolis is in progress.
Regarding industrialisation and employment, the mayor said the Prime Minister has approved three industrial zones in Rajshahi. Meanwhile, the implementation of BSCIC Industrial City-2 is in the final stage.
When the ongoing project of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Hi-Tech Park is fully operational, it will provide employment to more than 14,000 youths.
Regarding the development in the field of education, the mayor said that efforts are being made to build new educational institutions in the city. Rajshahi Medical University project worth Tk 1,867 crore has been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).
Regarding sports and entertainment development, the mayor said about 17 acres of land has been acquired for BKSP in Paba upazila. The construction work will be completed by June 2023.
Construction of a Novotheater inside the Shaheed AHM Kamaruzzaman Botanical Garden and Zoo is underway. The construction of the much-awaited Sheikh Russell Children’s Park is in the final stage.
During the press conference, the mayor said that the newly built modern markets will operate from the next financial year with the aim of increasing revenue and employment of people.
To this end, the allocation process of Swapnachura, Baishakhi, Shimla Super and City Center Market is already underway. Due to the increase in revenue, it is becoming possible to pay the salaries and allowances of the officers and employees at the beginning of the month.
Besides, the arrears of retired officers and employees are being paid in phases and steps have been taken to pay all the arrears by the next financial year.
The construction of multi-storey buildings including new houses and apartments has increased in the city.
