BMC: India's Richest Civic Body - How it Earns, Spends, and Governs Mumbai

• The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is India's wealthiest civic body, with a proposed budget of Rs 74,427 crore for FY 2025–26, exceeding budgets of several Indian states.
• Capital expenditure accounts for Rs 43,162 crore of the budget, focusing on infrastructure projects like roads, stormwater drains, sewage treatment, and coastal roads.
• BMC's primary revenue sources include state compensation in lieu of octroi (Rs 14,000-15,000 crore), development fees/premiums (Rs 6,000 crore), and property tax (Rs 5,200 crore).
• Since March 2022, Mumbai has been governed by an administrator without elected corporators, leading to concerns about accountability and equitable fund distribution.
• Despite large budgets, capital expenditure often remains underutilized, and infrastructure projects frequently miss deadlines, raising questions about delivery.

Why It Matters: BMC, India's richest civic body, operates with a massive budget, but faces accountability and delivery challenges.