Chandigarh: The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has finalised a Rs 1,712 crore budget for 2026-27, beginning April 1, marking one of the biggest allocations in recent years. Of the total amount, Rs 610 crore has been placed in the capital segment and Rs 1,102 crore in the revenue segment. Officials said this is the first time in the recent past that such a large amount has been earmarked under the capital head. This underlines the MC’s intention to push significant developmental works across the city in the coming year.
The budget will be presented before the general house in a special meeting expected later this month for members’ approval, after which it will be sent to the Chandigarh administration for consideration and final clearance.Under the capital segment, the civic body has listed 24 major and minor heads, covering a wide spectrum of development activities. Key areas include improvement of city roads and parking lots, augmentation of the water supply system, storm water drainage, sewerage management, solid waste management, civic works, sanitation and allied services, landscaping, electrification, development of the gaushala, and development of the vendor cell.MC officials said several developmental works could not be undertaken in recent years due to financial constraints, with only emergency or highly essential works being prioritised. This resulted in a growing backlog of pending works across multiple municipal wards, many of which now require immediate attention. To address this, a substantial allocation has been made in the capital segment for the upcoming year.Sources said that in several works, the MC has already initiated paperwork and procedural steps so that once the new financial year begins on April 1, execution can start immediately. “The moment the new financial year begins, the works can start on the ground without wasting time on procedural processes,” sources told TOI.Under the revenue segment, where a provision of Rs 1,102 crore has been made, wages constitute the largest expenditure head, with Rs 338 crore allocated for annual payments. Other key areas include salaries and establishment expenditure, payment of electricity bills, pensionary charges, fuel and lubricants, hiring of vehicles, sanitation-related expenses and office expenditure.Box: Admn earmarked Grant in Aid The Chandigarh administration has already earmarked Grant in Aid (GiA) of Rs 850 crore. The amount is the highest ever and more than Rs 225 crore from the last time, when the UT administration gave Rs 625 crore to the MC. Since the MC will start getting the amount from April, sources revealed that works will be carried out at full pace.Box: Heads under capital segment Heads | AmountsImprovement of roads and parking places — Rs 140 croreAugmentation of water supply system — Rs 61.75 croreStorm water drainage — Rs 50 croreSewerage system — Rs 44.50 croreSolid waste management — Rs 32.50 croreWard development fund — Rs 30.80 croreCivic works — Rs 28.6 croreSanitation and allied services — Rs 21.18 croreBasic amenities of EWS — Rs 14.53 croreLandscaping — Rs 13 croreBox: Heads under revenue segment Heads | AmountsWages — Rs 338.6 croreSalary and establishment — Rs 261.2 crorePayment of electricity bill — Rs 136.6 croreMinor works — Rs 129.2 crorePensionary charges — Rs 58 croreFuel and lubricants — Rs 32 croreOffice expenses — Rs 18.6 croreNPS (employees share) — Rs 9 croreHiring of vehicles — Rs 5.70 croreSwachh Bharat Mission — Rs 5 croreMSID:: 128036492 413 |
