Cuttack, March 10: The municipal corporation's budget for 2015-16 focuses on better civic amenities for residents of the city.

The Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) has allocated Rs 313.56 crore, which is Rs 64.84 crore more than that of the last year, to improve basic infrastructure.

Civic commissioner Gyanaranjan Das said: 'The budget proposal, which was tabled on February 27, was taken up for discussion and passed by the municipal council today. It will be shortly submitted before the government for approval.'

'It's a pro-people budget that aims to provide better road network, drainage and sanitation to the residents. About 28 per cent of the budget (Rs 88 crore) has been allocated for basic services to the urban poor,' head of standing committee for finance, taxation and accounts Ajay Barik said.

In 2014, the corporation had allotted Rs 26.81 crore under the category of public convenience that included improvement of roads, drains and street lighting.

This amount has been raised to Rs 41.67 crore in this year's budget estimate. While Rs 7 crore has been kept for drainage, Rs 3.5 crore has been allocated for road repair work.

Substantial hikes have also been made in the budget for mosquito control, public health improvement and betterment of sanitation and medical services.

In 2014, Rs 27.72 crore was allotted for public health, sanitation and medical services. This year, the amount has been raised to Rs 41.40 crore with Rs 30 crore earmarked for solid waste management. In the last budget, CMC had allotted Rs 2 crore for mosquito control.

This amount has been increased to Rs 3.4 crore.

According to the budget estimate, Rs 41.40 has been allotted for various special projects.

Administrative and establishment expenses have been pegged at Rs 56.69 crore.

The new special projects include construction of urban hat (market) to promote products made by rural artisans and women self-help groups.

Construction of seven kalyan mandaps, development of burial grounds along with provision of CNG crematorium at two burial grounds and four shelters for homeless are among the special projects.

'With projected receipts of Rs 339.76 crore for the year, its surplus budget with expenditure estimate is pegged at Rs 313.56 crore,' said mayor Anita Behera.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY VIKASH SHARMA