Fiscal 2002 budget requests from government ministries and agencies will total 85.7 trillion yen, up 3.7 percent from the initial budget for the current fiscal year, the Finance Ministry said Thursday.

That figure, however, could grow. The deadline for budget requests related to the seven key areas identified in Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's structural reform blueprint is the end of September.

All other requests must be submitted by today.