Thane Municipal Budget 2024-25: Revenue, Spending and Development Priorities for Thane Elections
The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) presented its budget for the financial year 2024-25, initially estimated at Rs 5,025 crore, later revised to Rs 6,550 crore amid fluctuating revenues. This budget underscores financial discipline, infrastructure upgrades, and citizen welfare, positioning key issues for the upcoming Thane municipal elections.
Revenue Sources and Challenges
Property tax remains the cornerstone of TMC’s revenue, with an initial target of Rs 819.71 crore for 2024-25, revised to Rs 776.42 crore by December 2024. The corporation achieved a notable Rs 810 crore in collections by April 2025, surpassing 95% of its Rs 850 crore goal through digital payments, online services, and city-wide surveys using advanced technology. However, overall revenue fell short due to declines in water charges, tax collections, advertising, and urban development funds, dropping estimates from Rs 3,454.83 crore to Rs 3,220.42 crore.
Other streams like development charges and GST are expected to bolster income without new tax hikes, reflecting efforts to enhance compliance and efficiency. This revenue strategy highlights TMC’s push for self-reliance, a potential election talking point as parties debate fiscal health amid criticisms of unmet targets and pending audits.
Expenditure Breakdown: Revenue and Capital Spending
Revenue expenditure for 2024-25 started at Rs 3,345.66 crore but was revised downward to Rs 3,034.77 crore, emphasizing austerity and optimal fund use. Capital expenditure, initially Rs 1,679 crore, rose to Rs 2,067.50 crore, fueled by increased grants, signaling a shift toward long-term assets.
For the subsequent 2025-26 budget of Rs 5,645 crore, revenue spending is projected at Rs 3,722.93 crore and capital outlay at Rs 1,929.41 crore, with a modest closing balance of Rs 66 lakh. These figures illustrate TMC’s balanced approach, prioritizing essential services while investing in growth, which voters may scrutinize during elections for delivery on promises.
Infrastructure Development Priorities
Infrastructure dominates allocations, with plans to modernize transportation, roads, and civic facilities. Under the ‘Changing Thane’ campaign, Rs 605 crore from state funds supports road networks, including Phase 1 (Rs 214 crore) and Phase 2 (Rs 391 crore), plus Rs 300 crore for renewals, widening, and concretization. Additional focus includes Rs 80 crore for urban renewal, Rs 285 crore for public transport, and upgrades to toilets, lakes, and stadiums like Dadoji Konddev.
Beautification drives and a pet crematorium waiver aim to enhance livability. Projects like converting the Mayor’s bungalow into a memorial and revamping Anand Ashram precincts tie into local sentiments, potentially influencing electoral narratives around heritage and development.
Education and Social Welfare Initiatives
Education receives attention through municipal school upgrades and skill development for the workforce. A 30,000 sq ft central library, offering e-books and author interactions, is planned via construction TDR, dedicated to national leadership. These steps address youth empowerment, a key voter concern.
Social welfare targets women, elderly, youth, seniors, and the disabled with strengthened schemes. Free cremation services and health facility enhancements prioritize vulnerable groups, aligning with citizen-oriented goals amid election debates on inclusivity.
Health, Cleanliness, and Environmental Focus
Health gets Rs 132 crore for medical college facilities, alongside broader improvements. Cleanliness drives promote a cleaner Thane, with tree censuses and conservation initiatives fostering sustainability. Commissioner Saurabh Rao emphasized a greener, healthier city without tax burdens.
These priorities echo past budgets’ focus on health, education, and sanitation, reinforcing TMC’s narrative of progress under administrative oversight.
Administrative Efficiency and Election Implications
TMC stresses transparency, quality execution, and streamlined processes for better service delivery. Strict expenditure controls and revenue augmentation measures aim for financial stability, countering activist critiques of the budget as superficial without audit releases.
As Thane gears up for municipal elections, the 2024-25 budget’s themes—revenue resilience, infrastructure push, and welfare—will shape campaigns. Ruling parties may highlight surplus collections and no-tax policies, while opposition questions project timelines and political memorials. Voters will weigh these against daily civic realities, determining the mandate for Thane’s future growth.
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