Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai

Mumbai, Feb 5: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has unveiled its ambitious budget for the financial year 2025-26, pegged at a staggering Rs 75,000 cr. This development-centric budget has garnered mixed reactions from civic leaders, activists, and citizens. Notably, the budget does not propose any tax hikes, despite the civic body undertaking several mega infrastructure projects—a move that has been widely appreciated.

The BMC’s budget outlines significant allocations for key infrastructure projects, including:

• Mumbai Coastal Road Project, nearing completion, already benefitting commuters

• Goregaon-Mulund Link Road, to improve east-west connectivity

• Versova-Dahisar Coastal Road and an elevated road from Link Road to Dahisar

• A massive work order pipeline of Rs 2.32 lac cr issued for projects over the next five years

However, concerns loom over the BMC’s revenue generation capacity. The civic body plans to utilise approximately Rs 40,000 cr from its fixed deposits (FDs) to fund these projects. This strategy has raised eyebrows about the corporation’s preparedness to tackle unforeseen emergencies if a significant chunk of its reserves is depleted.

“If such a substantial portion of FDs is spent and a major calamity occurs, how will the BMC arrange funds to handle the crisis? The municipal administrators must consider this aspect. Otherwise, this budget is indeed excellent and development-oriented,” said Ravi Raja, former leader of opposition in the MCGM, expressing cautious optimism on social media platform X.

While the budget has been praised for its infrastructure focus, some activists and civic leaders have pointed out gaps in allocation:

• Transport Hubs: The Dahisar Transport Hub has been included, but Mulund and Mankhurd hubs were overlooked.

• Development Plan (DP) Roads: Limited provisions for Project Affected Persons (PAPs)—only 5,000 allotted over the next five years—are deemed insufficient for a city as densely populated as Mumbai.

• Mithi River Project: Though funds have been allocated again, concerns remain over effective implementation, given past lapses.

“Despite Mumbai’s civic budget being comparable to that of a northeastern state, the allocation for education remains insufficient. A significant portion of the ?3,500 crore set aside for education will go towards salaries and school maintenance, leaving little for actual development,” remarked Gopal Javeri, a Borivli-based activist.

On the positive side, the budget’s focus on bridges and flyovers has been well-received. These projects are expected to play a vital role in reducing traffic congestion across Mumbai.

“This time, a well-planned budget has been passed for bridges, addressing Mumbai’s persistent traffic issues. Major infrastructure projects like the Coastal Road and newly built bridges have already shown positive results,” said a satisfied commuter.

The education sector has also seen some progressive moves:

• Expansion of BMC schools

• Introduction of the CBSE curriculum

• Upgradation of science and IT labs

• Establishment of skill development centres

These initiatives aim to improve the quality of education in BMC schools, providing students with better opportunities for higher studies and career growth.

While the BMC’s Rs 75,000 cr budget reflects an aggressive push towards transforming Mumbai’s infrastructure and public services, it also raises critical questions about fiscal sustainability. The success of this budget will depend on the timely execution of projects, effective fund management, and the ability to address the concerns raised by civic bodies and citizens alike.