December 15, 2025: With municipal elections looming in 29 civic bodies across the state, the Urban Development Department has sanctioned Rs 111.6 crore as a “special provision for the development of basic amenities in municipal corporations,” with over half earmarked for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Fifteen government resolutions were issued on Saturday, authorising the release of these funds, ahead of the declaration of polls. Once the model code of conduct comes into force, no fresh funds can be released without approval from the State Election Commission (SEC), fueling speculation that urban local body elections are imminent.
Of the total allocation, Rs 57 crore has been sanctioned for BMC. The funds will be utilized for works in Andheri West, LBS Road, Naigaon, Bandra West, Colaba, Chira Bazaar, and Azad Maidan, including laying footpaths, constructing taps and gutters, and sewage treatment initiatives.
Other municipal corporations will also benefit: Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayander, and Bhiwandi-Nizampur are allocated Rs 16.3 crore, while Vasai-Virar receives Rs 2.5 crore. Civic bodies in the Pune division have been sanctioned Rs 22.5 crore, with Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad receiving Rs 12.5 crore. Nagpur (Rs 1.3 crore), Nashik (Rs 2.7 crore), and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar municipal corporations are also included.
Local body elections commenced with municipal council polls on December 2. The SEC had originally planned to hold elections for the 29 municipal corporations in the third phase in January, but the timeline may shift due to quota-related delays in several zilla parishads. Local body polls must be concluded by January 31, per Supreme Court directives.
State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare noted, “In the next phase, we may consider holding polls to the 29 municipal corporations or to the 12 zilla parishads and their panchayat samitis which have not crossed the 50% quota barrier. Or, we may hold both these polls together.” The release of funds ahead of polls underscores the government’s focus on civic development and the timely completion of local projects.
Source: The Times of India
