MUMBAI: In a historic move, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) the richest civic corporation of the country has unveiled its largest-ever budget for the fiscal year 2025-26, amounting to a staggering Rs 74,427 crore. This marks a significant 14.19% increase from the previous year’s budget, reflecting the civic body’s ambitious plans to address Mumbai’s growing infrastructure and public service needs. The budget was presented by BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, who has been serving as the state-appointed administrator since March 2022, at the BMC headquarters.

The budget emphasizes a balance between capital and revenue expenditures, with a strong focus on infrastructure development, healthcare, and revenue generation. A major portion of the budget, Rs 43,162 crore, has been allocated to capital expenditure, targeting large-scale infrastructure projects.

Key initiatives include the Mumbai Coastal Road Project, aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving connectivity along the city’s coastline, and the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road, a critical infrastructure project designed to enhance east-west connectivity. Additionally, the BMC plans to construct seven new sewage treatment plants to improve wastewater management and reduce pollution.

An amount of Rs 31,204 crore has been allocated to ensure the smooth functioning of essential services such as healthcare, education, and public safety. In healthcare, the BMC plans to open 25 new Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray – Aapla Dawakhana clinics and three physiotherapy centers. These clinics will offer free medical check-ups, medicines, and blood tests, significantly improving access to healthcare for Mumbai’s residents. The education budget, presented by Additional Municipal Commissioner Amit Saini, focuses on improving school infrastructure and enhancing the quality of education in BMC-run schools.

To boost revenue, the BMC has introduced several new measures. Property tax revenue is estimated at Rs 5,200 crore, while revenue from water and sewerage charges is projected at Rs 2,363 crore, up from the previous year’s estimate. In a new initiative, the BMC will tax businesses operating in slums, aiming to generate an estimated Rs 350 crore in revenue for the year 2025-26.