Pune Municipal Budget 2025-26 to Be Presented: What’s in Store for Residents?

Pune, 3rd March 2025: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) budget for the financial year 2025-26 will be presented before the Standing Committee on Tuesday, March 4. This will be the first budget under Municipal Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale, who faces the challenge of balancing reduced revenue with increasing demands for infrastructure and public services.

With declining property tax revenue, the closure of the Local Body Tax (LBT) department, and lower income from encroachment and sky sign fees, the municipal administration is under pressure to allocate funds wisely. Residents are eager to see whether this budget will introduce new projects or continue the maintenance-heavy approach seen over the past two years.

Budget Deficit Crosses ₹3,000 Crore
In recent years, there has been a consistent gap of ₹3,000 crore between the budgeted revenue projections and the actual income received by PMC. Despite receiving around ₹7,500 crore in revenue over the last two years, the municipal budget has been pegged at ₹10,500 crore, leading to criticism that the figures are inflated. With no elected Standing Committee in place, many hope the administration will present a more realistic budget this year.

Key Focus Areas: Transport and Public Health

With traffic congestion, river pollution, and public transport issues worsening in Pune, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has instructed PMC to take major steps to ease the city’s traffic woes. Additionally, funds are expected to be allocated for:

Road and transport improvements to tackle growing congestion.
Water supply projects to address contamination and rising demand.
Health services, including provisions to curb gastrointestinal infections linked to unsafe drinking water.
As Pune’s Missing Link project requires land acquisition, significant funds may also be directed toward infrastructure upgrades.

Will Pune See a Development-Oriented Budget?
With rising pollution levels, deteriorating public transport, and infrastructure concerns, citizens are waiting to see if the municipal budget will introduce new initiatives or remain a routine maintenance plan. The budget announcement on March 4 will reveal whether Dr. Bhosale opts for bold reforms or a conservative financial strategy for Pune’s development.