Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Budget 2024-25: Revenue, Spending and Development Priorities for Kalyan-Dombivli Elections
The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) approved a budget of approximately Rs 3,182 crore for the financial year 2024-25, maintaining no increase in taxes while prioritizing social welfare, health infrastructure, environmental sustainability, and urban development. This fiscal plan, presented by Municipal Commissioner Dr. Indurani Jakhar, underscores a balanced approach to resource allocation amid upcoming local elections, aiming to address resident needs without additional financial burden.
Revenue Sources: Stable Funding Without Tax Hikes
Revenue generation forms the backbone of the KDMC budget, relying heavily on existing streams to fund operations and projects. Key inflows include Rs 700.15 crore from civic taxes, primarily property taxes collected from residential, commercial, industrial, and other properties across Kalyan and Dombivli. Reports indicate KDMC collected Rs 392 crore in property taxes for FY 2024-25, highlighting its role as a major revenue pillar used for maintenance and development.
Additional revenue comes from Rs 308.57 crore in GST grants and Rs 661.50 crore from special acts, ensuring a diversified funding base. Some sources note a total budget figure around Rs 2,493.71 crore with a small surplus, but the approved outlay stands at Rs 3,182 crore. State government support, including Rs 4.5 crore in special funds allocated to KDMC ahead of elections, further bolsters finances for basic amenities. This no-tax-hike strategy reflects prudent management, offering rebates for timely payments and amnesty for defaulters to encourage compliance.
Major Spending Allocations: Balancing Administration and Services
Expenditure is strategically distributed to cover essential services. The largest chunk, Rs 587.59 crore, goes toward establishment and administrative expenses, supporting staff salaries and operations. Water supply and sewage receive Rs 194.61 crore, addressing critical infrastructure needs in the twin cities. Public health gets Rs 181.68 crore, funding hospital upgrades and sanitation initiatives.
These allocations align with broader goals of fiscal responsibility. For the prior year, Rs 1,847.17 crore was earmarked, indicating steady planning. Investments in solid waste management, lake beautification, and flyover construction enhance urban livability, while renewable energy projects like solar power promote long-term efficiency.
Development Priorities: Welfare, Health, and Green Initiatives
Social welfare emerges as a core focus, targeting vulnerable groups. The Divyang Kalyan Yojana receives Rs 12 crore for monthly pensions, educational support, and a dedicated Disability Education Training and Service Facility Centre. Women’s empowerment includes hostels for working women and the Savitribai Phule Scholarship Scheme, aiding municipal school students preparing for NEET, JEE, MPSC, and UPSC exams. Shelter homes in Dombivli and Titwala provide aid to the homeless, alongside scholarships for deserving students and pensions for senior citizens.
Health improvements feature recruitment of specialist doctors and staff for municipal hospitals, plus a new cancer hospital with advanced facilities in Dombivli East. Environmental efforts emphasize expanding green cover via the Miyawaki method, developing child-friendly gardens, and lake beautification to boost the city’s green spaces.
Cultural infrastructure includes a Hindi Bhashi Bhawan at Netivali, Agri Koli Kunbi Cultural Bhawan, and Warkari Bhawan in Kalyan West, fostering community identity.
Implications for Kalyan-Dombivli Elections
As local elections approach, the 2024-25 budget positions KDMC as responsive to voter priorities. The absence of tax hikes appeals to taxpayers, while welfare schemes for disabled persons, women, students, and seniors signal inclusive governance. Infrastructure pushes in health, water, and environment address perennial urban challenges in Thane district’s twin cities, established under KDMC in 1982.
Special state funds timed before polls, part of Rs 500 crore disbursed statewide, target amenities like pools and roads, with full state coverage in some cases despite Maharashtra’s fiscal strains—projected state debt at Rs 9.3 lakh crore. This budget sets a precedent for sustainable urban planning, balancing immediate relief with long-term resilience.
Residents can pay property taxes online via debit card, UPI, or RTGS, or offline at KDMC offices and banks, with incentives like 5% rebates for early payment. Overall, the plan reflects a holistic vision, potentially influencing electoral narratives on development and equity in Kalyan-Dombivli.
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