For the first time in over a decade, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has spent over 88 per cent of the allotted budget for developmental activities/projects during FY 2021-21. The increase in the amount spent on capital expenditure has provided a much-needed push to development and infrastructure projects in the city, senior BMC officials said.

Despite the major challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, BMC spent Rs 9,676.97 crore on capital expenditure against the allotted budget of Rs 10,903.58 crore in fiscal 2020-21, i.e. 88.75 per cent of the total provisions. It is also the highest spent on infrastructure and development projects in the last 11 years.

In FY 2018-19, 69.67 per cent of the revised budget allocated on development projects was spent. In FY 2019-20, the expenditure increased to 87.70 per cent. The same has increased to 88.75 per cent this year.

Broadly, this amount has been spent mainly on the Coastal Road Project, Goregaon Mulund Link Road (GMLR), Sewerage Project, Development Plan Matters, Roads and Transportation, Water Supply, Health, Rainwater Drainage, Bridges and Solid Waste Management, amongst others.