As the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) prepares to present its 2026–27 budget later this month, information obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) application has shed light on the scale and direction of its infrastructure spending in the current financial year. The RTI response, sought by The Times of India, outlines how India’s richest civic body has continued to prioritise capital-intensive development works.
For 2025–26, the BMC earmarked Rs 43,162 crore for capital expenditure from its total budget outlay of Rs 74,427.41 crore, reflecting a sustained emphasis on long-term infrastructure creation, TOI reported. Of this allocation, the civic body has already spent Rs 19,443 crore on capital works so far in the ongoing financial year, with infrastructure-related departments accounting for the bulk of the expenditure.
RTI data shows that the Roads and Traffic Department recorded one of the highest spends at Rs 3,365 crore, while the Mumbai Sewage Disposal Department incurred expenses of Rs 3,767 crore. Spending on bridge projects closely followed at Rs 2,940 crore, TOI reported. Civic officials said these departments are driving several large-scale projects that are reshaping Mumbai’s transport and utility infrastructure.
Significant progress has been reported on major road and bridge works over the past year. The ongoing road concretisation programme, which aims to convert asphalt roads into concrete, is being implemented across the city. Several key bridge projects have also moved closer to completion. The Carnac Bridge, now renamed the Indore Bridge, was opened last year, while the Bellasis Bridge and Goregaon Flyover were completed during the current year and are expected to open soon. Work on the Sion Bridge is likely to finish before the monsoon, TOI reported.
Sewerage infrastructure has also been a major focus, with the Mumbai Sewage Disposal Department undertaking construction of seven sewage treatment plants across the city. Civic officials noted that since contractor payments are largely settled towards the end of the financial year, total capital spending for 2025–26 could exceed Rs 27,955 crore spent in 2024–25, potentially setting a new record. At the same time, rising civic liabilities crossing Rs 2 lakh crore have triggered discussions on alternative funding mechanisms such as Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs), officials said, as reported by TOI.
Source: Lokmat Times
