Mangaluru City Corporation Announces ₹886.3 Crore Budget with Focus on Infrastructure Upgrades.

Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) reccntly presented its ₹886.3 crore budget for the financial year 2025-26, emphasizing key infrastructure upgrades, including underground drainage (UGD), drinking water supply, and road development.

MCC projects a revenue of ₹741.2 crore, with grants totaling ₹500 crore from the state and central governments. Kadri Manohar Shetty, chairperson of the Standing Committee on Taxation, Finance, and Appeals, presented the budget, outlining expected revenue generation of ₹241.7 crore from various taxes. This includes ₹95.9 crore from property tax, ₹55 crore from water cess, ₹25 crore from solid waste management cess, ₹24.8 crore from building construction and premium FAR, and ₹8.7 crore from road cutting and restoration fees. The corporation also anticipates over ₹7 crore annually from new markets in Kadri, Kankanady, and Central Market.

To enhance the city's water supply, ₹23.2 crore has been allocated for repairs and management, while ₹1 crore has been earmarked for renovating Thumbe Dam. A sum of ₹9.2 crore has been set aside for rajakaluve improvements to mitigate flooding in low-lying areas.

MCC plans to upgrade 9.5 km of UGD trunk lines using National Green Tribunal (NGT) funds to prevent sewage from entering stormwater drains. Additionally, old UGD pipelines in Pumpwell, Attavara, Bejai, and Mahakalipadpu will be replaced at a cost of ₹49.4 crore. For road widening and footpath development, ₹67.3 crore has been allocated.

In an effort to control the stray dog population and prevent pet abandonment, the corporation will introduce a free sterilization program for pet dogs at a cost of ₹56 lakh.

To ease parking congestion near Sri Manjunatha Temple in Kadri, MCC has proposed a multi-level parking facility under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, allocating ₹10 crore for the project. Additionally, ₹5 crore has been set aside for constructing a Mayor's Bungalow and a Recreation Centre.

ET