The Jalandhar Municipal Corporation’s budget for the upcoming financial year (2026-27) has once again become a subject of discussion within the city regarding its priorities. While the Corporation intends to spend ₹200 crore on development works, a significantly larger sum—₹312 crore—is earmarked for the salaries of current employees and the pensions of retired staff.
A meeting has been convened at the Red Cross Bhawan on March 30 at 11:00 AM to approve the proposed budget, which totals ₹569 crore. Proposals related to various development projects will also be presented during this meeting. Notably, the budget session is being held just one day prior to the conclusion of the financial year.
In terms of revenue, the Corporation’s primary reliance this time around will once again be on its share of the GST received from the Punjab government, which is expected to generate approximately ₹310 crore. The target for property tax collection has been set at ₹80 crore, with no increase introduced this year. A target of ₹100 crore has been established for revenue generation through fees related to building construction, land-use conversion, and development charges. Additionally, revenue is projected at ₹14 crore from the advertising department, ₹8 crore from excise duties, ₹1 crore from electricity duty, ₹15 crore from the health department, and ₹25 crore from the water supply department.
Other major expenditure heads include ₹50 crore allocated for road construction and repairs, ₹30 crore for solid waste management and bio-mining, ₹22 crore for electricity bills, and ₹15 crore for sewage pumping and cleaning operations. Furthermore, ₹21 crore will be spent on fuel (petrol and diesel), ₹8 crore on horticulture, ₹8 crore on sanitation services, and ₹5 crore on vehicle maintenance. Emphasis on Modernizing Sanitation Systems: Machinery to be Procured
In its budget, the Municipal Corporation has placed special emphasis on strengthening the sanitation infrastructure through the procurement of machinery. Six modern machines will be procured for waste collection, entailing an expenditure of approximately ₹4.69 crore. These machines will be capable of efficiently clearing accumulated waste from parks, green belts, footpaths, and roadsides. According to reports, the Municipal Corporation’s budget proposal also includes a plan to purchase a new Thar vehicle for the Commissioner. As per the information available, two automobile dealerships have quoted a price of ₹22.35 lakh for the procurement of the vehicle.
Furthermore, the budget proposals include plans to purchase machinery worth ₹3 crore for tree pruning, equipment worth ₹3.28 crore for the Horticulture Department, patch-work machines for road repairs, grab-bucket vehicles, e-rickshaws, and state-of-the-art machinery for sewer cleaning.
Overall, despite the substantial budgetary allocation for developmental projects, the high expenditure on salaries and pensions once again highlights the Corporation’s financial priorities. It now remains to be seen in what form this budget receives final approval during the meeting scheduled for March 30.
