Following the presentation of Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) Budget 2026, the corporators from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP) have strongly criticised the civic administration, demanding transparency over the use of development funds, reported the PTI.
During a heated debate on the civic budget, members questioned the utilisation of over Rs 2,560 crore out of Rs 4,953 crore received from the state government over the past four years.
BJP corporator Mrunal Pendse alleged that a large portion of the funds had been spent on sewerage and footpath projects, but the work on the ground did not reflect such high expenditure, according to the PTI.
She further called for a detailed white paper and a comprehensive inquiry into the alleged irregularities.
Pendse also criticised the Thane civic administration’s budget as unrealistic, questioning the effectiveness of costly projects when residents still rely on water tankers for basic needs.
Claims of Rs 2,000 crore property scam
Pendse further alleged a separate scam involving around Rs 2,000 crore related to the allotment of municipal properties to “bogus beneficiaries”. She warned that strong protests would be launched if authorities failed to initiate a proper investigation, as per the PTI.
She also raised concerns about rising housing costs, suggesting that original residents could be forced out due to unaffordable real estate prices.
NCP (SP) criticises ‘elite-focused’ budget
NCP (SP) corporator Sudhir Bhagat criticised the civic budget for prioritising amenities for the affluent over basic services for ordinary citizens.
He highlighted poor infrastructure in areas such as Mumbra and Diva, stating that essential services had not improved significantly, the news agency reported.
Suggestions to boost civic revenue
Bhagat proposed measures to increase revenue, including taxing unauthorised buildings and implementing a structured parking policy. He claimed that proper taxation through ward committees could generate up to Rs 900 crore, while a parking framework could further boost income, according to the PTI.
He also questioned the imposition of a one per cent cess for Metro projects in areas lacking connectivity and pointed out gaps in public transport infrastructure, the news agency reported.
(with PTI inputs)
