A one-time settlement scheme to encourage payment of property tax, foot over bridges at busy junctions, waiving off increased water bills under the 24X7 project, 'Nagpur Darshan' bus service, an environment park and allocation of funds to encourage sports activities. These are some of the projects announced by standing committee chairman Sandeep Joshi in the proposed annual budget (2010-11).

Presenting a Rs 1187.33 crore budget, a four-figure mark for the first time, Joshi proposed hiking octroi rates on various goods, levy of penalty at 18% interest on non-payment of property tax and recovering more revenue from estate and market departments. The budget projects an income of Rs 1,193.29 crore with expenditure being Rs 1193.12 crore. The increase in income is primarily based on rise in octroi collection, property tax, fire and water tax revenue.

"We expect an increase in revenue due to improvement in recovery and vigilance. Our estimates are not exaggerated," Joshi said.

Recently, former municipal commissioner Aseem Gupta had presented budget proposals with an outlay of Rs 824.55 crore. And as is the usual practice, Joshi inflated it by another Rs 362 crore making it Rs 1,187 crore.

On the issue, Joshi said, "In his budget, Gupta had mentioned loans worth Rs 100 crore and dues worth Rs 15 crore, but the standing committee increased it to Rs 250 crore and Rs 98 crore respectively."

For working heads, the allocation of funds rose from Rs 145 crore to Rs 248 crore, while the traffic section went from Rs 6 crore to Rs 10 crore and fire from Rs 4.17 crore to Rs 7.17 crore. Sports too saw a considerable rise from Rs 1.53 crore to Rs 23 crore.

"The difference between Gupta's revised budget and the standing committee's budget is Rs 355 crore. I have adjusted the difference," added Joshi.

Joshi has set a target of Rs 673.63 from four revenue-earning sources - octroi (Rs 375 crore), property tax (Rs 176.87 crore), water tax (Rs 115 crore) and markets (Rs 6.72 crore).

A provision of Rs 100 crore has been made for the construction of a RuB, a RoB, a flyover and maintenance of IRDP roads.

To carry out repairs of internal roads, Rs 15 lakh has been sanctioned for every ward. Keeping in mind the rising population and traffic, the NMC has proposed installation of signals, blinkers and latest traffic management systems like close circuit TV cameras at a estimated cost of Rs 10.45 crore.

An amount of Rs 71 crore has been set aside to improve the street light system, installation of high mast lights and removal of MSEB poles which affect smooth flow of traffic. For the first time, Rs 10 crore has been allocated for the city traffic fund and Rs 7.17 crore for the fire department.