Ulhasnagar Corporators Performance Review: What Changed in Past 7 Years for Ulhasnagar Elections
Over the past seven years, Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) corporators have navigated a mix of fiscal growth, infrastructure ambitions, and governance challenges, shaping the landscape ahead of upcoming municipal elections. From budget expansions to probes into administrative irregularities, their tenure reflects incremental progress alongside persistent issues in revenue collection and public service delivery.
Budget Evolution: From Rs 821 Crore to Nearly Rs 989 Crore
The financial trajectory of UMC under current and recent corporators shows notable expansion. In 2020, after a six-month delay, the civic body approved an Rs 821 crore budget, marking a significant step in stabilizing operations post-approval hurdles. This figure represented a baseline for development initiatives at the time.
Fast-forward to the 2025-26 financial year, and UMC has approved a Rs 988.72 crore budget, approved directly by the commissioner. This increase of over 20% highlights a push toward larger-scale projects. Revenue projections include Rs 286.53 crore from GST, Rs 120.41 crore from property tax, and Rs 72.25 crore from water tax, with a modest hike in water tariffs to bolster inflows. Key allocations prioritize Rs 50 crore for education and Rs 225.34 crore for wages, underscoring commitments to human resources and schooling.
Corporators’ influence is evident in the budget’s focus on smart infrastructure and sustainability. Major projects encompass a new administrative building, staff bungalows, a boat club, and riverfront development. These initiatives aim to modernize Ulhasnagar, a Thane district hub, while promoting environmental goals and gender parity in planning. Voters in the upcoming elections may weigh whether these allocations translate to tangible improvements in daily life.
Infrastructure and Service Delivery: Promises Versus Progress
Beyond budgets, corporators have championed visible developments. The emphasis on a riverfront and recreational facilities like a boat club signals a shift from basic maintenance to urban beautification. Education funding has seen a dedicated Rs 50 crore slice, potentially enhancing schools and learning facilities in a city with a diverse, densely populated profile.
However, core services like water supply remain pressured, as indicated by the water tax increase. Property tax collection, a major revenue pillar, has been pivotal yet problematic. The growth in projected property tax from earlier years to Rs 120.41 crore suggests improved enforcement efforts by corporators, but it also exposes vulnerabilities in the system.
Over seven years, Ulhasnagar has moved from budget delays—such as the 2020 approval lag—to proactive planning. Yet, questions linger on execution speed. Have pothole-ridden roads, erratic water, and sanitation improved proportionally? Elections will test if corporators can claim credit for these shifts or if residents demand more accountability.
Governance Challenges: Corruption Allegations and Inquiries
No review is complete without addressing controversies. Recently, UMC ordered an inquiry into alleged corruption in its tax department, spotlighting issues under corporators’ watch. BJP leader Rajesh Vadhrya accused officials of granting a 100% penalty waiver on property tax, breaching the 50% limit of the Abhay Yojana scheme.
The case involves businessman Mukesh Karia, whose Ulhasnagar property—rented to a private bank—amassed Rs 49 lakh in unpaid tax and Rs 83 lakh in penalties, totaling Rs 1.33 crore. Vadhrya alleged software tampering at a customer facility center on the scheme’s final day, March 18, post-5:45 pm cutoff, to approve the full waiver at 10 pm. A committee now probes these claims, with promises of action.
Such incidents erode trust. Corporators, responsible for oversight, face scrutiny over departmental lapses. Past bypolls, like the 2018 contest where NCP’s Suman Sachdev won with Shiv Sena support against Congress’s Jaya Sadhwani, highlight political alliances that influence governance. These events from seven years ago set the stage for ongoing power dynamics.
Political Landscape and Election Implications
Ulhasnagar’s politics blends regional heavyweights—NCP, Shiv Sena, BJP, and Congress. The 2018 bypoll victory for NCP in panel 17 exemplified shifting loyalties, with Shiv Sena backing amid low Congress turnout. Corporators from these panels have steered UMC through budgets and probes.
As elections near, performance metrics matter. Budget growth signals fiscal maturity, but corruption shadows it. Infrastructure like the administrative complex promises efficiency, yet service gaps persist. Voters must assess if the past seven years brought holistic change—better roads, reliable utilities, transparent taxes—or if rhetoric outpaced results.
In a city pivotal to Thane’s growth, corporators’ legacy hinges on delivery. The Rs 988.72 crore budget offers ambition, but inquiries remind of pitfalls. Elections will decide if continuity or change prevails, with residents holding the key to Ulhasnagar’s next chapter.
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