Patna Municipal Corporation Passes Rs 2,854 Crore Budget Amid Opposition Uproar

Patna: Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Saturday approved a budget of Rs 2,854 crore for the financial year 2025-26, allocating significant funds for infrastructure, sanitation, and water supply. The budget, which was passed in the presence of Mayor Sita Sahu, Deputy Mayor Reshmi Chandravanshi, and Municipal Commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar, witnessed protests from opposition councillors demanding increased funds for ward development.

Of the total budget, Rs 365.59 crore will be provided by the central government, Rs 810.06 crore by the Bihar government, and Rs 408.85 crore will come from PMC’s own resources. A sum of Rs 150 crore has been earmarked for infrastructure development, while Rs 180 crore is expected to be raised from property tax and garbage collection fees.

Opposition Protests Over Ward Fund Allocation

The budget session was marked by heated exchanges, with opposition councillors demanding an increase in their annual ward allocation from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore. However, the Standing Committee remained firm on maintaining the existing allocation. The disagreement led to sloganeering against Mayor Sahu, prompting intervention by the Municipal Commissioner.

Sahu rebuked the protesting councillors, warning them against disrupting proceedings. “You will not get the budget passed by creating chaos. Stay quiet,” she said, further accusing the opposition of “not listening and simply blabbering.”

Key Allocations and Revenue Targets

The budget focuses on improving infrastructure, sanitation, and water supply. In a bid to address water scarcity during summer, PMC has allocated Rs 75 lakh for installing three submersible pumps in each ward.

Patna’s 75 municipal wards cover four assembly constituencies—Digha, Bankipur, Patna Sahib, and Fatuha. The first three are held by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and councillors from these constituencies are expected to benefit from PMC’s allocations.

The budget includes Rs 150 crore for road construction, street lights, bridges, and beautification projects. Additionally, PMC aims to generate Rs 860 crore in revenue through property tax, water tax, advertisement fees, and other levies.