BMC’s use of funds for projects higher this year; check data

The BMC has allocated Rs 2,000 crore for the Coastal Road construction this year but spent Rs 1,920 crore. File pic/Satej Shinde

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has used 41 per cent of the amount that was reserved for projects (capital expenditure) this year till November end.

This year BMC reserved Rs 18,750 crore as capital expenditure which was more than in earlier years, out of which only Rs 7,629 crore (41 per cent) was used. In the previous election year - 2016-17 - the BMC had allocated around Rs 12,958 crore out of which hardly Rs 3,850 crore, 30 per cent, was utilised. This year the allocation increased by almost 40 per cent. The BMC took some of the amount from the reserved funds for the projects as the revenue income decreased due to the lockdown.

An official from the BMC said, "Before the pandemic, 30 to 40 per cent of the funds remained unutilised. But since last year the utilisation of funds increased. This year more than 40 per cent of the fund was used till November end."

Out of the funds allocated, the most expenses were on the Coastal Road, incomplete roads and bridges works. The BMC has already spent more than 90 per cent of the funds allocated for these projects though there are still four months before the financial year closes. On the other hand, there was barely any spending on sewerage treatment plants, the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road and Development Plan works. DP works include funds for taking land, developing plots for various purposes like housing, open spaces, etc.

"Though there is a huge expenditure shown on roads and bridges, these works were all carried forward from the past two years. Not a single new roadwork started this year. The administration failed to utilise more than around 40 per cent of the fund after completion of 8 months," said Ravi Raja, leader of the opposition.