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LUCKNOW: Residents will not experience any increases in property taxes or parking fees, as the Municipal Corporation has allocated ₹1,253 crore for development projects in its approved budget for 2026-27.
The budget, along with the revised estimates for 2025-26, was presented and unanimously passed in the House by executive vice-chairperson Charanjeet Gandhi, with the presence of mayor Sushma Kharkwal, municipal commissioner Gaurav Kumar, and other officials.
Mayor Kharkwal emphasized the focus on enhancing civic infrastructure without shifting the tax burden onto citizens. “No new taxes have been introduced. We aim to boost revenue through improved collection and by widening the tax base,” she stated.
The municipal body plans to enhance income by identifying properties that have come under city jurisdiction but are not contributing taxes, and by taking action against defaulters. Similar strategies will be employed to boost revenue from rents, advertisements, and other sources, with additional funds sourced from state and central schemes.
To facilitate easier payments, POS machines will be installed in all 110 wards for house tax and usage fees. Timely payments will be rewarded with an 8-10% rebate and cashback offers for digital transactions.
The LMC has already seen an increase in revenue: house tax collection reached ₹517 crore, increasing by ₹105.35 crore, including a notable ₹35 crore from High Court premises. User charges rose to ₹28.52 crore (up ₹9.70 crore), while advertisement revenue climbed to ₹16.16 crore (up ₹9.48 crore), and there were increases in income from rent, parking, and licenses.
“The surplus will be directed towards enhancing civic amenities,” the mayor affirmed.
Following a third-place finish in the Swachh Survey 2024-25, the city is now striving for the top position. The budget prioritizes sanitation improvements, toilet construction, and awareness initiatives under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
Development efforts are planned across all 110 wards, covering road repairs, drainage cleaning, waste management, park enhancements, open gyms, vending zones, transfer stations, school renovations, anganwadi centres, women’s hostels, sports complexes, and Miyawaki forests.
Allocated funds include ₹271 crore for road maintenance, ₹42.55 crore for street lighting, ₹300 crore for waste management, and ₹255 crore for road and drain cleaning.
New vending zones will be created with ₹15 crore to organize street vendors and alleviate traffic issues. Parks will be revitalized, and Miyawaki forests will be developed to increase green cover.
Open gyms will be established with ₹20 crore, while a new zonal office and headquarters will emerge in the Chakbast area. Municipal schools are set for upgrades, with one new school to be constructed and 40 new anganwadi centres to be opened.
The proposal also includes women’s hostels, sports complexes, public libraries, urban plazas, and high-tech nurseries. Beautification of lakes and ponds across the city will be executed under the AMRUT scheme.
Community halls, welfare centres, and care facilities for seniors will be developed, alongside redesigning and beautifying major intersections.
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