GHMC Approves ₹11,460-Crore Budget for 2026–27 Ahead of End of Elected Body’s Term
Hyderabad: With just ten days remaining before the end of the term of its elected council, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on Saturday approved a ₹11,460-crore budget for the 2026–27 financial year. The budget was passed amid discussions on the city’s growing needs, infrastructure challenges, and concerns raised by several corporators over fund adequacy.
The approval assumes significance as it is the last full budget passed by the current elected body, marking the culmination of its administrative tenure. Civic officials stated that the budget aims to ensure continuity in essential services, infrastructure development, and urban maintenance across Hyderabad’s rapidly expanding municipal limits.
Focus on Core Civic Infrastructure
A major portion of the budget has been allocated to core civic services, including:
- Road development and maintenance
- Stormwater drainage and flood mitigation
- Solid waste management
- Public health and sanitation
- Street lighting and urban amenities
GHMC officials emphasized that improving road connectivity, preventing urban flooding during monsoons, and strengthening waste management systems remain top priorities for the coming financial year.
Budget Size Draws Mixed Reactions
While the budget was formally approved, it drew mixed reactions from corporators across party lines. Several members argued that the ₹11,460-crore allocation is insufficient for a megacity like Hyderabad, especially after its geographical expansion and rising population.
Corporators pointed out that GHMC now governs an area of nearly 2,000 square kilometres, with growing demands for infrastructure, public transport support, drainage upgrades, and urban resilience projects. They expressed concerns that limited financial resources could slow down development works in peripheral zones and newly merged areas.
Revenue and Financial Challenges
Civic officials acknowledged that revenue constraints continue to be a challenge. Property tax collection, user charges, and other municipal revenues are expected to form the backbone of GHMC’s income, along with state government grants.
However, corporators highlighted that increasing operational costs, debt servicing, and mandatory expenditures leave limited fiscal space for new projects. Some members also called for better financial planning and enhanced revenue-generation mechanisms to reduce dependence on external funding.
Implications for Hyderabad’s Growth
Urban planners and real estate observers note that GHMC budgets play a crucial role in shaping Hyderabad’s real estate and infrastructure growth. Investments in roads, drainage, flyovers, and civic amenities directly influence property values and livability across residential and commercial hubs.
With the city continuing to attract IT investments, residential demand, and large-scale urban expansion, stakeholders believe that sustained and higher civic spending will be critical in the coming years.
Transition Phase Ahead
As the elected body’s term nears its end, the approved budget will serve as a financial roadmap during the transition period, ensuring that essential civic functions and ongoing projects are not disrupted. Administrative control is expected to move under interim arrangements until the next municipal elections.
The GHMC budget for 2026–27 thus reflects both the ambitions and constraints of governing one of India’s fastest-growing metropolitan cities at a crucial juncture.