Mumbai's ₹80,952 crore BMC budget sparks debate after 94-hour marathon session

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has approved an Rs. 80,952.56 crore budget for 2026-27 after a marathon 94-hour session. For the first time, the proceedings were live-streamed, allowing public viewing of the debates. A total of 188 corporators, including 10 nominated members, took part in the discussions. During the session, Opposition parties raised concerns over financial mismanagement and fund allocation. Congress group leader Ashraf Azmi pointed out that only Rs. 70 crore was spent from the Rs. 2,000 crore set aside for civic amenities over the past four years. MNS group leader Yashwant Killedar also highlighted pending dues of Rs. 10,998 crore owed by the state government.

BJP leader and Leader of the House Ganesh Khankar noted a decline in fixed deposits, dropping from Rs. 91,690 crore in 2021 to Rs. 77,905 crore in 2026. Meanwhile, the budget included a reallocation of Rs. 800 crore towards a dedicated development fund.

Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader Amey Ghole defended the administration’s development work during the administrator-led period. Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide assured corporators that all their suggestions would be considered seriously. Despite these assurances, the Opposition, led by Shiv Sena (UBT), staged a walkout, accusing the administration of unequal fund distribution. The budget session concluded after extensive debate, with key financial adjustments and political disagreements on display. The approved budget now moves forward, setting the financial framework for Mumbai’s civic operations in the coming year. The live-streaming of proceedings marked a new step in transparency for the BMC.