Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) record Rs 6,202.99-crore budget for 2026-27 was passed by a majority on Monday after a 11-hour debate, with the BJP projecting it as a growth roadmap and Congress dismissing it as a “copy-paste” of the last four years’ budgets. A total of 76 corporators from the ruling and opposition benches, took part in the session.The ward development fund emerged as the most contentious issue. Leader of Opposition Sanjay Mahakalkar demanded that the allocation be doubled from the proposed Rs25 lakh to Rs50 lakh, arguing that it was inadequate even for routine civic works. Several BJP corporators, including Vijay Zalke and Pradeep Pohane, also supported the demand.Replying to the debate, ruling party leader Narendra Borkar proposed increasing the ward fund to Rs35 lakh, acknowledging the consensus across party lines. The proposal was later approved. Mayor Neeta Thakre approved the budget, presented by Standing Committee chairperson Shivani Dani-Wakhare on Saturday, along with the recommendation. Mayor’s Development Fund was enhanced to Rs 20 crore while deputy Mayor’s Development Fund was increased to Rs 10 crore.Rejecting the Congress charge that the budget lacked a credible revenue plan, Borkar said the proposed ducting policy would generate nearly Rs50 crore annually, while the transfer of layouts from NMRDA would boost revenue through building plan approvals. He said the property tax survey pilot in Laxmi Nagar Zone had brought nearly 20,000 new properties into the tax net and would now be replicated across all 10 zones. Extending Aapli Bus services from 20km to 30km into NMRDA areas would create another revenue stream, he added.Water Supply Committee chairperson Divya Dhurde welcomed women-centric initiatives, including the proposed Mayor’s Maher scheme, while senior corporator Sanjay Balpande urged the administration to earmark funds for reconstructing dilapidated municipal school buildings. Virendra Kukreja sought a Rs100-crore allocation for infrastructure development in Gunthewari layouts.Congress members, however, questioned both the budget’s projections and priorities. Mahakalkar alleged that it remained heavily dependent on government grants and argued that, with nearly four months of the financial year already over, achieving the projected revenue targets in the remaining eight months was highly improbable. He also criticised poor property tax recovery, alleged corruption in the town planning department, and sought allocations for the development of places of worship across communities.Standing Committee member Wasim Khan said several opposition suggestions, including prioritising desilting and reconstruction of drains in the old city, had been ignored. First-time corporator Shailesh Pande described the budget as a replica of commissioner-era budgets, saying it painted a Singapore-like future for Nagpur while failing to address irregular garbage collection, unequal water supply, shortcomings in city bus services and inadequate ward development funds.Congress corporator Ketan Thakre questioned the absence of fresh revenue sources despite rising expenditure and warned that indiscriminate construction of cement roads was shrinking the city’s green cover.Standing Committee member Abhijeet Jha suggested adopting Pune’s property tax model to strengthen NMC’s finances and reduce dependence on govt grants. Senior corporator Deepak Patel said many of the budget’s announcements would materialise only if the Standing Committee chairperson remained in office for the next three years.Several other corporators, including NCP’s lone member Abha Pande, Divya Dhurde, Darshani Dhawad, Jitendra Kukade and Pradeep Pohane, also participated in the debate.Opposition alleges exclusion during budget preparationThe proceedings also witnessed a brief confrontation. Some BJP corporators objected to opposition members of the Standing Committee speaking in the House, arguing that they had already presented their views during the committee’s deliberations.Mahakalkar countered that had the Standing Committee genuinely considered the opposition’s suggestions while drafting the budget, there would have been no need to raise the same issues in the general body. His remarks drew silence from the treasury benches.KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM BUDGET DEBATECORPORATORS PUSH FOR HIGHER WARD FUNDSAcross party lines, corporators sought doubling of ward development funds from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. BJP assured a hike to Rs 35 lakh per corporator, citing greater needs in fringe areas.‘NO VENDING ZONES, NO SOLUTION TO ENCROACHMENT’Members said earmarking vending zones is essential to regulate hawkers, reduce congestion and boost NMC revenue. They questioned the Rs 32 crore Healthy Street allocation without a rehabilitation plan.CORPORATORS BACK COMMUNITY-LED CLEANLINESS DRIVEMembers stressed that corporators can play a key role in improving sanitation by mobilising residents, helping boost Nagpur’s Swachh Bharat ranking.REBUILD DAMAGED RETAINING WALLS, DEMAND MEMBERSCorporators from flood-prone areas demanded urgent reconstruction of damaged river and nullah retaining walls to prevent future flash floods.OPPOSITION TERMS BUDGET ‘UNREALISTIC’Opposition corporators argued that salary and pension liabilities would take priority, leaving development works underfunded. They also opposed the Rs 30 crore allocation for the CM’s Office.SPECIAL HOUSE TO EXPLORE NEW REVENUE SOURCESThe civic administration agreed to convene a special general body meeting to seek corporators’ suggestions for enhancing NMC’s own revenue.RS 10 CRORE FOR BAKHT BULAND SHAH MEMORIALThe budget earmarks Rs 10 crore for the beautification and renovation of the grave of Bakht Buland Shah, founder of Nagpur.
