State Govt: AMC pins hope of receiving fund of Rs 70 cr to develop city roads

The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is hoping to get a fund of at least Rs 70 crore from the state government, out of previously announced packages, for the development of important roads in the city.

In 2017, the state government had announced a package of Rs 100 cr to AMC. In the hope of getting the aid, the AMC undertook the works of developing roads but stopped after some time for want of funds. Later on, the state government again announced a package of Rs 150 cr for the important roads passing through the city. The AMC was to get a share of Rs 50 crore, out of it, which is yet to be received. As a result, the civic administration did not start the work.

The AMC is undergoing a severe financial crisis. It is surviving on Rs 24 crore, the share it receives from the state government every month from the local body tax. The recovery of taxes is low, owing to the lockdown. The collection of taxes is between Rs 1.5 cr and Rs 2 cr per month.

The administrator A K Pandey is trying his best to arrange for finance to pay some money to contractors. They are waiting to clear their bills of Rs 240 crore for the past two years.

Meanwhile, the AMC is hoping that if the state releases Rs 20 crore under the previous package and Rs 50 cr under the new package, then they would be able to develop the city roads soon.