Mumbai: On Tuesday, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Commissioner and administrator Bhushan Gagrani presented his first budget since he was appointed commissioner of the country’s richest civic body. In his budget speech, Gagrani highlighted that the Rs 74,427 crore budget estimate presented for the fiscal year 2025-26 is the biggest BMC budget to date and it reflects the demands and expectations of Mumbaikars.
Gagrani noted that BMC received 2,238 suggestions from the citizens, of which the maximum were for the BEST bus service and extensive road works in Mumbai and the corporation took serious note of those suggestions.
“As per citizens’ demand to better the BEST service, the BMC has granted aid of Rs 1,000 crore to BEST to purchase electric buses. While regarding road works, although the BMC aims to concretize all roads in the city, residents of some areas demand no concretization of the roads which are already in good condition. If such proposals are submitted by residents for a particular locality, it will be considered,” Gagrani said.
The commissioner also highlighted that this year there has been an increase of Rs 7,410 crore in BMC’s income compared to last year. The rise in revenue is mainly through income from the development plan department, fire brigade and octroi in lieu.
As per the October 2024 notification, the state government has sanctioned a 50 percent share of the premium recovered for additional FSI to BMC as against the earlier permissible 25 percent. On this account, the BMC has received an additional Rs 70 crore till now and is expected to receive as much as Rs 300 crore for FY 2025-26, Gagrani said in his speech.
Gagrani added that although BMC has not announced new projects, it has expanded funds for the existing projects and aims to complete the mega projects like Coastal Road’s phase II and seven Sewage Treatment Plants on time.
Over the years the BMC has been ensuring that out of total expenditure, the capital expenditure is more than revenue expenditure. In this regard, for FY 25-26 BMC is expected to spend 58 percent (Rs 43,162 crore) of its total expenditure on public works and 42 percent (Rs 31,204 crore) against administrative costs.
Apart from infrastructure works, in his FY 25-26 budget speech, BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani stressed the climate action plan, school education and health infrastructure.
