Bike ambulances, helipads, BBMP budget doles it out big

BENGALURU: With assembly elections around the corner, this year's BBMP budget is expected to woo urban masses with health infrastructure facilities such as bike ambulance, helipads and setting up of ICUs at selected BBMP hospitals. 

BBMP Standing Committee on Taxation and Finance Chairman Mahadev told Deccan Chronicle that the budget will be realistic and aim to reduce the burden of urban middle class.

After the coalition of Congress and JD(S) came to power in the BBMP, this is the first time JD(S) has been given the finance portfolio. We have included several things in the budget based on the guidelines of JD(S) supremo and former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Mahadev said.

While Mahadev chose not to reveal major things in the budget, sources from the taxation committee told Deccan Chronicle that the total outlay will not cross '10,000 crore and will not promise things which are not implementable.

"Announcements will be made for the construction of 198 helipads in the city. Budget will have special focus on public health. 

So you can expect upgradation of BBMP hospitals, addition of dialysis units and maternity centres and announcement of bike ambulances. To popularize maternity hospitals, civic body is expected to reserve certain amount to the children born at BBMP hospitals. Also poor shall be able to reimburse medical costs," said a BBMP source. Unlike previous budgets this year prominence has been given to the inputs from citizens. As per their suggestion as a first step towards decentralizing solid waste management, waste to biogas plants are expected to come up in all wards, he said.

With environmental awareness increasing among the citizens, the civic body will develop tree parks and take up large scale rainwater harvesting in open spaces and along storm water drains, the source said.