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Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani will present the budget with the upcoming BMC elections in mind. The proposed garbage collection tax could add to the tax burden on Mumbaikars
This year’s budget, the first under Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, is expected to reach Rs 65,000 crore. (Representative/PTI File)
Ahead of the presentation of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) budget, speculations are rife that the richest municipal corporation in Asia is likely to impose a garbage tax.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner and Administrator, Bhushan Gagrani, will present the budget, considering the upcoming BMC elections. This potential garbage collection tax could increase the tax burden on Mumbaikars.
This will be the third consecutive year that the Commissioner will present the budget as an administrator, outlining the financial plan for the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26.
There is speculation that the budget of Asia’s richest municipal corporation will focus on infrastructure. With the upcoming elections in mind, the budget may include some popular announcements.
However, the decline in the municipal corporation’s fixed deposits and the increasing budget figure are concerns for Mumbaikars. This year’s budget, the first under Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, is expected to reach Rs 65,000 crore.
Compared to the current year’s budget of Rs 59,954 crore, this year’s budget is likely to see an increase in allocation for road and transport projects, which received Rs 3,200 crore last year and Rs 2,561 crore the year before.
According to News18 Marathi, the budget is also expected to include provisions for ambitious projects such as the second phase of the coastal road, the Goregaon-Mulund link road, and the production of fresh water from seawater.
The BMC budget is also likely to address concerns related to the environment, pollution, and Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), following political allegations and concerns raised by various organisations.
While the previous budget included announcements for revenue enhancement, such as an app for women’s safety and the disposal of polluting vehicles, these initiatives have not been implemented. Therefore, it remains to be seen whether the upcoming budget will rehash old announcements or introduce new ones.
