Here Are The Top 10 Highlights From Karnataka Budget 2024

Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, presented his 15th budget as the Finance Minister of the state today (16 February).

In his previous tenure as chief minister and finance minister, his government was under criticism for announcing 'expensive freebies', alleged bias in policymaking towards minorities, and for ignoring development of infrastructure.

This time around, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah faced criticism on three counts:

One, for ignoring relatively underdeveloped regions such as Kalyana Karnataka and Kittur Karnataka.

Two, allegedly antagonising Hindus in the state with statements against the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

Three, for introducing freebies that have crippled the state exchequer.

These three talking points have been addressed by the Chief Minister this time around, in a budget speech exceeding three hours — one of the longest speeches in recent history.

Highlights

For FY 2024-25, the total expenditure is estimated to be Rs 371,383 crore, the highest so far in the state. This includes revenue expenditure of Rs 290,531 crore, capital expenditure of Rs 55,877 crore and loan repayments up to Rs 24,974 crore.

Here are some of the highlights from CM Siddaramaiah's budget speech in the Karnataka Assembly:

1. Budgetary allocation for welfare schemes increased to Rs 120,373 crore. Amid criticism, Siddaramaiah hit back at his political opponents and defended his government's decision to implement the 'pro-poor' welfare schemes which were announced earlier last year.

This is a revenue deficit budget, but Siddaramaiah went on to defend himself by stating that the fiscal deficit has been maintained within 3 per cent of the gross state domestic product (GSDP). He said that he is confident of achieving revenue surplus in the next two years.

Also read: Why Karnataka's stellar economic growth in recent years faces serious threat from Congress's reckless and ruinous freebie promises

Just the five guarantee schemes — Gruhajyoti, Annabhagya, Shakti, Gruhalakshmi and Yuvanidhi — cost the exchequer a whopping Rs 52,000 crore this financial year. According to the CM, on an average, every family has received somewhere between Rs 50,000 to Rs 55,000 because of the schemes.

2. Bengaluru scores big, as many announcements have been made for the development of infrastructure in the city:

a. Adding more metro lines to the existing network of 74 kilometres in the city. By 2025, an additional 44 km metro line is proposed to be added, and nearly eight lakh people will be using the services daily. A feasibility report will be prepared for extending the metro from BIEC to Tumakuru and KIAL to Devanahalli.

b. Government of Karnataka plans to digitalise the property tax records of all the properties that fall under the BBMP limits. This way, the digital e-khata and tax payment details will be available for owners from now on.

c. The Signature Business Park near Kempegowda International Airport has received an allotment of Rs 817 crore. This is supposed to attract investments of up to Rs 5,000 crore in research and innovation across various sunrise sectors in Karnataka.

d. BWSSB plans to offer 24x7 water supply in the city, and more areas will be receiving Cauvery water supply soon.

e. To address the issue of landfills in the city, four places are being identified for a processing facilities. These will be established in 50-100 acre lands and are predicted to solve the garbage problems of the city for the next three decades.

f. Satellite townships with road and rail connectivity are being planned in the vicinity of Bengaluru. This includes townships at Nelamangala, Hosakote, Doddaballapura, Devanahalli, Magadi and Bidadi.

g. Work orders have been issued to construct the 46.2 km long line between Hilalige and Rajanakunte.

h. To increase trade and commerce, all the shops and establishments are allowed to function till 1am in Bengaluru, and across 10 other corporations in the state.

i. White-topping to be carried out on major roads in the city. Total length of white topping in this phase would be 147 kms. This is estimated to be completed by December 2025.

j. To further reduce traffic, the Outer Peripheral Ring Road (Bengaluru Business Corridor) is being developed at a cost of Rs 27,000 crore. 100 km of all-weather roads to be developed alongside. Plus a tunnel has been announced in Hebbal junction to solve the traffic problem. This will be done on a pilot basis.

3. More minority welfare schemes, with the allocation of Rs 100 crore for the development of Waqf properties and construction of a Haj Bhavan in Mangaluru at Rs 10 crore.

100 new Maulana Azad schools will be opened. Students from the minority communities who are pursuing BSc, nursing courses in colleges in the state can apply for a reimbursement of their fee.

Pilgrimage centres to be developed. The biggest allocation in this has been given to the Christian community with a budget of Rs 200 crore.

Tripitakas, the sacred texts of Buddhism, will be translated into Kannada and a development grant of Rs 1 crore has been given to the Shri Nanak Jhira Saheb Gurudwara in Bidar.

4. SC/STs, Minorities, Women And Child Welfare: Rs 39,121 crore allocated for the welfare of the SC/ST community. For the welfare of women and children, a budget of Rs 86,424 crore and Rs 54,617 crore has been allocated, respectively.

Gender minorities, devadasis and specially-abled persons also find a mention in the budget with 1,500 motorised two-wheelers for special persons, increment of support funds from Rs 800 to Rs 1,200 for gender minorities and a similar support scheme for ex-devadasis has been announced.

5. To tackle the drought and water crisis in the state, Rs 2,000 crore has been allotted to develop canals in Varuna. This is for the Gubbia Mathadahalli drinking water project and the Arkavati River Front Development project near Ramanagara.

Kalaburagi district, affected by an acute water shortage, can now draw water from the Bennethora Reservoir to quench its thirst. Water from Bhima and Kagina rivers will be directed to the reservoir. To this end, Rs 365 crore has been allocated.

Rs 970 crore has been set aside for drinking water and Antar Jal development which will mostly help people in Kalyana Karnataka in districts like Raichur, Koppal and Kalaburagi.

Rs 5,000 crore has been allotted for the development of Kalyana Karnataka. Rs 629 crore has been released for subsidy to farmers affected by drought. Rs 200 crore to increase the underground water level under Krishi Bhagya and Rs ,5000 crore from SDRF for drought mitigation measures.

6. To develop tourism in the state, Rs 100 crore has been allocated for the Anjanadri Hills, believed to be the birthplace of Lord Hanuman.

7. Sports finds a decent mention, as an international sports city is being planned in Bengaluru North under the PPP model. More such facilities are being planned at four other spots in the city.

A prize money of Rs 6, 4 and 3 crore has been announced for athletes who represent India and win at the upcoming Paris Olympics.

8. Pro-Kannada measures: In his budget speech, CM Siddaramaiah stated that "Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act will be enforced strictly to make usage of 60 per cent of Kannada mandatory in the nameplates and boards of all offices, shops and various commercial establishments in the state".

A Kannada Border Development Authority will be established, and will promote the language in schools.

9. Swarajya reported on this earlier that the Congress made promises to establish a jeans park in Ballari but little moved on that front beyond the promise. This time, a textile park has been announced in Kalaburagi district spanning up to 1,000 acres of land.

More such parks are proposed in Kalyana Karnataka (Raichur), Kittur Karnataka and Mysuru.

Finally, an apparel park for jeans has been announced for Ballari, and mini-textile parks will be established in 25 districts of the state.

10. Road Infrastructure apparently got a lower priority with a proposal to develop state highways at Rs 5,736 crore. More funds have been announced to develop coast, ports and water transports in the state at places like Karwar, Malpe, Old Mangaluru and Nethravati.