Budget allots Rs 843.46 cr for Delhi police

With focus on developing traffic and communication network in the city, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday allocated Rs 3,041 crore (Rs 30.41 billion) for the Delhi Police in the General Budget, an increase by a whopping Rs 843.46 crore (Rs 8.43 billion).

In his budget for the year 2009-10, the finance minister, out of Rs 3,041 crore (Rs 30.41 billion), allocated Rs 122 crore (Rs 1.22 billion) for modernization programmes and Rs 22.61 crore (Rs 226 million) for Commonwealth Games projects.

The previous budget had allocated Rs 1,581 crore (Rs 15.81 billion) for the city police while revised estimates showed that the force was allocated Rs 2,170 crore (Rs 21.70 billion). If one goes by proposed figure, the increase in allocation will be Rs over 1,460 crore (Rs 14.6 billion).

A senior police official said this was the first time that Delhi Police is receiving a component in the budget for Commonwealth Games.

According to the Budget estimates, the salary bill of the city police will be a whopping Rs 813.52 crore (Rs 8.14 billion), which includes payment of 60 per cent arrears as per the Sixth Pay Commission.

The FM has allocated Rs 40 crore (Rs 400 million) for developing traffic and communication network in NCR mega cities and a model traffic system, while Rs 50 lakh (Rs 5 million) has been allocated for upgradation of training in city police.

For induction of latest technology, another Rs 50 lakh has been allocated while Rs 2 crore (Rs 20 million) has been given for installation of traffic signals.

The force's allocation for constructing houses for its personnel has been increased to Rs 15 crore (Rs 150 million) from last year's Rs 10 crore (Rs 100 million). In 2007-08, the allocation was Rs 30 crore (Rs 300 million).

The amount earmarked for buildings for the organisation has been slashed to Rs 16.5 crore (Rs 165 million) from Rs 25 crore (Rs 250 million) last year. In 2007-08, the allocation was Rs 40 crore (Rs 400 million).