Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday presented its Budget for 2026-27 with a record outlay of ₹80,952.56 crore the highest allocation in the civic body’s history. The budget prioritises infrastructure expansion, education reforms, healthcare upgrades and climate resilience, while leaving existing tax rates untouched.
Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, while presenting the budget, said the focus this year is on accelerating long-pending capital projects and strengthening essential services for Mumbai’s rapidly growing population.
Infrastructure Accounts for Bulk of Spending
Capital expenditure dominates the budget, with nearly 60 per cent of the total outlay — approximately ₹48,000 crore earmarked for infrastructure and long-term development. Road concretisation has been allocated ₹5,520 crore as part of BMC’s ongoing drive to rid Mumbai of potholes, while Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) upgrades have received ₹5,690 crore to improve wastewater management and curb marine pollution.
Significant funds have also been directed towards major connectivity projects, including the Mumbai Coastal Road (North) extension and the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR), both aimed at easing east-west traffic congestion across Mumbai’s suburbs.
Schools to Get AI Labs, Tablets; Hospitals See Funding Boost
Education figures among the top priorities this year, with ₹4,248 crore allocated for municipal schools. The BMC plans to set up AI labs, establish English language support centres, expand NCC units and distribute around 20,000 tablets to students, with officials stating the goal is to modernise civic education and improve learning outcomes.
Healthcare has also received a substantial push, with over ₹7,400 crore set aside for civic hospitals and public health services. The funds are intended to upgrade medical infrastructure, increase bed capacity and strengthen emergency preparedness.
Climate Change Allocation Doubled
Recognising the growing threat of climate change to the city, the BMC has doubled the budget of its Environment and Climate Change Department. The administration is also exploring green bonds as a financing mechanism for eco-friendly initiatives. Storm-water drainage improvements, desilting works and flood mitigation measures continue to be high on the agenda as Mumbai braces for more intense monsoon seasons.
No New Taxes; Focus Shifts to Execution
The budget proposes no new taxes, with the civic body instead planning to enhance revenue collection efficiency while maintaining fiscal discipline. While the scale of the allocation has attracted considerable attention, civic activists have said the true measure of success will depend on timely implementation and transparency in project execution.
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