Chandigarh: The MC has sought a budgetary allocation of Rs 1,500 crore for the next financial year, 2027-28, and an additional Rs 50 crore under the revised estimates (RE) for the current financial year, 2026-27, from the Chandigarh administration.The civic body has sought reimbursement of electricity duty under the Punjab Municipal Act, 1976, while submitting its budget estimates (BE) to the UT local govt and finance department.Significantly, the Rs 50 crore sought under the RE for 2026-27 is for development works, which the MC says, will help accelerate ongoing and planned projects ahead of the municipal elections scheduled for Dec.Along with the budget demand for the current and next financial years, the MC has submitted details of its expenditure till Aug 31, 2026. According to the figures submitted to the administration, Rs 55.2 crore was spent under the capital head, meant primarily for development works, while Rs 389.3 crore was spent under the revenue head, covering committed liabilities such as salaries, wages, pensions and bills.The MC has also included funds for installation of night shelters across the city in its budgetary estimates.“With Rs 55 crore released, work worth crores is being done on the ground. These relate to all wings of the MC’s engineering department, including building and roads, sewerage, stormwater, water, horticulture, electrical, and solid and liquid waste management. Work for construction of some new community centres has also been allotted to agencies after the tender exercise,” sources in the MC told TOI.Officers concerned have been asked to complete the works within the given deadlines. Punjab governor and UT administrator is closely monitoring the developments, sources added.While pressing for reimbursement of electricity duty, which is pending with the ministry of home affairs (MHA), the MC, in its letter to the UT administration, said it had been continuously demanding reimbursement in accordance with Section 90(6)(c) of the Punjab Municipal Act, 1976, as extended to the Union Territory of Chandigarh.“However, the reimbursement of Electricity Duty presently remains pending with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). It is therefore requested that the outstanding amount of Electricity Duty may also be released to the MC, as per the provisions of the ibid Act,” the letter said.
