LMC budget okays no hike in tax, parking charges, sets aside Rs 1,253 crore for projects | Lucknow News
Lucknow: Residents will not face any hike in property tax or parking charges, even as the Municipal Corporation has set aside Rs 1,253 crore for development works in its 2026–27 budget approved on Sunday.The budget, along with revised estimates for 2025–26, was presented in the House by executive vice-chairperson Charanjeet Gandhi and passed unanimously in the presence of mayor Sushma Kharkwal, municipal commissioner Gaurav Kumar, corporators and officials.Kharkwal said the focus is on improving civic infrastructure without increasing the tax burden on residents. “No new taxes have been imposed. We are strengthening revenue through better collection and expanding the tax base,” she said.She said the civic body will increase income by identifying properties that have come within city limits but are not paying taxes, along with action against defaulters. Similar steps will be taken to improve revenue from rent, advertisement and other sources. Additional funds will come from state and central govt schemes.To make payments easier, POS machines will be installed in all 110 wards for house tax and user charges. Residents paying on time will get an 8–10% rebate, along with cashback on digital payments.LMC has already recorded a rise in revenue. House tax collection reached Rs 517 crore, up Rs 105.35 crore, including a record Rs 35 crore from the High Court premises. User charges rose to Rs 28.52 crore (up Rs 9.70 crore) and advertisement revenue to Rs 16.16 crore (up Rs 9.48 crore), while income from rent, parking and licence fees also increased.“The surplus will be used to improve civic conditions,” the mayor said.After securing third place in the Swachh Survey 2024–25, the city is now aiming for the top rank. The budget focuses on improving sanitation, building toilets and increasing awareness under the Swachh Bharat Mission.Development works are planned across all 110 wards, including road repairs, drainage cleaning, waste management, park beautification, open gyms, vending zones, transfer stations, school upgrades, anganwadi centres, women’s hostels, sports complexes and Miyawaki forests.An amount of Rs 271 crore has been allocated for road repair and maintenance and Rs 42.55 crore for street lighting. For cleanliness, Rs 300 crore has been earmarked for waste management and Rs 255 crore for cleaning roads and drains.New vending zones will be developed with Rs 15 crore to organise street vendors and ease traffic. Parks will be upgraded and Miyawaki forests developed to increase green cover.Open gyms will be set up with Rs 20 crore, while a new zonal office and headquarters will be built in the Chakbast area. Municipal schools will be upgraded, one new school will be constructed, and 40 new anganwadi centres will be opened.The plan also includes women’s hostels, sports complexes, public libraries, urban plazas and high-tech nurseries. Lakes and ponds across the city will be beautified under the AMRUT scheme.Community halls, welfare centres and care centres for senior citizens will be developed, while major intersections will be redesigned and beautified.
