Haryana Appeals for Special Grants for Infrastructure Projects in NCR

Haryana Finance Minister Jai Prakash Dalal has officially requested special grant assistance from the central government for the execution of key projects within the National Capital Region (NCR). This appeal was made during a meeting with finance ministers from all states, led by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Delhi. Dalal highlighted several significant initiatives, including the development of the Kundli–Manesar–Palwal (KMP) expressway, aimed at alleviating congestion in the NCR, and the ongoing construction of the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor. This rail project stretches 122 km from Palwal to Sonipat and is now estimated to cost Rs 11,600 crore.

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Further elaborating on the state's ambitious projects, Dalal mentioned the establishment of an integrated multi-modal logistics hub in Narnaul, spanning 1,000 acres, and the India International Horticulture Market in Ganaur, Sonipat. Additionally, he discussed the Delhi-Panipat fast rail corridor, which forms part of the regional rapid transport system. These developments underscore Haryana's commitment to enhancing infrastructure within the NCR. Consequently, Dalal urged the Government of India to consider providing special grant assistance to support these initiatives.

The Finance Minister also advocated for the continuation and enhancement of the special assistance scheme for capital investment for states. He proposed that Haryana's allocation under this scheme should reflect its significant contributions to GST collection and the national GDP. In 2023-24, Haryana contributed 6 per cent to GST collections and 3.7 per cent to India's GDP.

On social security measures, Dalal revealed steps taken by the state government to improve welfare provisions. The old age samman allowance and other social security pensions have been increased to Rs 3,000 per month, marking the highest rate in India. The total number of beneficiaries under these schemes has reached approximately 32 lakh. Furthermore, budget allocations for social security pensions have been raised to about Rs 12,000 crore for 2024-25, accounting for 6.30 per cent of Haryana's total budget.

In November 2022, the Government of India disbursed a grant of Rs 250 crore for social security schemes for the fiscal years 2021-22 and 2022-23. This grant represented 2.83 per cent of Haryana's total expenditure of Rs 8,821.16 crore on these schemes in 2022-23. Dalal suggested that either an increase in financial assistance rates or a shared expenditure burden could further bolster social security efforts in the state.

Through these discussions and proposals, Haryana aims to secure additional support from the central government to advance its infrastructure projects and enhance social security measures for its residents.