7 months ago
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The allocation of the full Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) fund to the Ward Budget has shown a dependable decline, from 18% successful 2021-22 to 11% successful 2025-26, shows a survey titled ‘Mumbai Ward-Wise Budget Paper 2025’ conducted by Praja Foundation, successful collaboration with Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS).
The study connected the Ward Wise Budget of Mumbai, providing an in-depth investigation of allocations and expenditure successful each 24 administrative wards of Mumbai, was released connected Thursday (October 9, 2025). It highlights cardinal disparities successful fund organisation crossed each wards and underscores the urgent request for equitable and participatory fund planning.
“Over the past 5 years, portion BMC’s wide fund has astir doubled—from ₹39,027 crore successful 2021–22 to ₹74,367 crore successful 2025–26—the stock allocated to wards has steadily declined. This widening spread highlights the urgent request to fortify ward-level fiscal planning,” said Milind Mhaske, CEO of Praja Foundation.
According to the report, successful the past 5 years, the percent of BMC superior expenditure allocated to wards has sharply dropped from 10% successful 2021-22 to conscionable 3% by 2025-26, signalling the inclination of a increasing spread successful superior concern betwixt wide metropolis projects and section ward-level needs.
The different findings amusement disparity betwixt colonisation size and allocation of resources. For instance, the Eastern Suburb generates the lowest per capita spot taxation among the 3 regions (Western, South, and Eastern), yet its per capita gross expenditure is much than treble its per capita spot taxation contribution. In the lawsuit of South Mumbai hosting 25% of Mumbai’s population, it records the highest per capita gross expenditure, portion the Western region, having the largest stock of the city’s colonisation (44.42%), receives the lowest per capita gross and superior expenditure, highlighting a disparity.
“The Eastern Suburb, with 30.78% of the population, secures the highest per capita superior expenditure, suggesting a stronger absorption connected infrastructure and developmental projects successful this region,” suggests the report.
“The study highlights the value of designing ward-level plans that see colonisation growth, infrastructure needs, and surviving conditions, ensuring that the fund genuinely reflects the aspirations of citizens. It besides calls for a dedicated level to facilitate participatory budgeting, enabling wider national engagement,” said Nitai Mehta, Founder and Managing Trustee, Praja Foundation.
The study analysed the ward budgets for 5 years, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 and conducted survey of fund allocation for gross and superior expenditure for assorted civic amenities similar Solid Waste Management, Storm Water Drains, Roads, Footpaths, Gardens, Markets, Public Health Services and Allocation for Slums provided successful the ward fund books.
“This study highlights the manifestation of ward-wise fund successful the nationalist domain, disparity of allocation wrong the wards and regions of Mumbai, specified arsenic Island City, Eastern and Western Suburbs. The findings of this study rise a question connected wherefore important factors successful fund planning, specified arsenic colonisation and surviving conditions, are disregarded portion readying for the city’s budget,” said Amita Bhide, Professor, Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS).
