BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani (right) and Standing Committee Chairman Prabhakar Shinde (centre) present BMC's 2026-27 budget, in Mumbai on 25 February 2026. (Express Photo by Sankhadeep Banerjee)As the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) tabled its annual budget before the civic standing committee on Wednesday, allocations for five major infrastructure projects together accounted for 42 per cent of the total capital expenditure of Rs 48,162 crore for the financial year 2026–27.The BMC’s overall budget size for FY 2026–27 stands at Rs 80,952 crore, with nearly 60 per cent earmarked for capital expenditure. The five projects that received the highest funding include the civic body’s wastewater treatment facility (WWTF), under which seven sewage treatment plants (STPs) are to be constructed. For 2026–27, the BMC has allocated Rs 5,690 crore for the WWTF project.This is followed by Rs 5,520 crore for the ongoing road concretisation project, Rs 4,000 crore for the Mumbai Coastal Road (North: Versova–Dahisar), Rs 2,650 crore for the Goregaon–Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project, and Rs 2,324 crore for the BMC’s water conveyance tunnel project.Together, these five projects account for 42 per cent of the total capital expenditure and nearly 25 per cent of the BMC’s overall budget.The allocations also underline the Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government’s thrust on accelerating infrastructure development in Mumbai.During his budget speech, Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani said the focus on upgrading existing infrastructure was aimed at improving civic services.“The BMC has committed a liability of Rs 2.13 lakh crore towards prestigious and priority infrastructure projects along with Rs 31,406 crore for essential works across other civic departments. This total commitment reflects BMC’s strong focus on strengthening infrastructure and significantly improving civic services,” Gagrani said.Story continues below this adNotably, the budget did not announce any new big-ticket projects.“The primary focus of the administration is to make Mumbai future-ready. The city’s population has been on the rise and no new water source has been created since 2014. Therefore, there is a need to augment the city’s existing water supply network. At the same time, Mumbai is growing rapidly, and connectivity also needs to be strengthened.Hence, focus was given to key infrastructure projects like GMLR and the Mumbai Coastal Road,” an official said.The WWTF project comprises seven STPs, of which three are expected to become operational by the end of 2026, while the remaining four are slated to be commissioned next year. The plants will have a combined capacity to treat up to 2,464 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage, helping bridge the city’s water supply deficit.On road infrastructure, the BMC has taken up concreting 700 km of roads in two phases of 350 km each. Budget data show that as of Wednesday, 75 per cent of the work under the first phase has been completed, while 50 per cent of the second phase has been executed. The civic body aims to complete the entire project by December 2026.Story continues below this adMeanwhile, the 25-km-long coastal road is set to connect Versova in Mumbai’s western suburbs with Bhayander in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).In addition, excavation work for the twin tunnels of the GMLR project is scheduled to begin this year, prompting a substantial allocation for the project. While the first phase is expected to be completed this year, officials have set a 2029 deadline for the overall project. The GMLR and the second phase of the coastal road are also planned to be linked to ensure smoother traffic movement between the eastern and western suburbs.The civic body has also earmarked Rs 437.51 crore for the Gargai–Pinjal project, a pet initiative of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Under the project, the BMC plans to construct a dam in Palghar district to supply 440 MLD of water to Mumbai daily.Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India. Expertise & Authority Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai. Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in: Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting. City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region. Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis: National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019. State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019. Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis. Experience Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies: Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014). Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express. Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read MoreNayonika Bose is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau. While in the early stages of her career, her focused reporting on local governance and community welfare already demonstrates clear Expertise and Trustworthiness in covering essential civic issues impacting Mumbai's residents. Expertise & Authority (E-E-A-T) Specialized Focus: Nayonika's reporting is dedicated to civic and community issues, providing readers with highly relevant, ground-level information about the functionality and administration of India's largest metropolitan area. Core Coverage Areas: Her articles highlight a strong focus on the fundamental quality of life and public safety in Mumbai, including: Civic Infrastructure: Reports on critical failures and initiatives related to public works, such as the recurring problem of unauthorized building collapses in Navi Mumbai, the construction of new infrastructure projects (like the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road and the Mahalaxmi cable-stayed bridge), and the maintenance of essential city services (e.g., manhole cover theft). Urban Governance & Crisis Management: Provides detailed coverage of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) response to major crises, particularly during the monsoon (e.g., heavy rainfall, water cuts, and public health concerns like dengue and malaria) and large-scale public safety incidents (e.g., the hoarding collapse fallout). Community Welfare & Rights: Reports on key social issues, including the financial aid scheme for persons with disabilities, the struggles of Mumbai's hawkers protesting eviction drives, and the dangers faced by workers due to the continuation of manual scavenging in water tanks. Cultural & Heritage Reporting: Covers significant community stories, including the restoration of British-era fountains and the history of institutions like the 126-year-old Chinchpokli cemetery, showing a breadth of interest beyond pure administration. Tweets @nayonikakb ... 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