Surat Municipal Corporation Presents Historic Rs 9603 Crore Draft Budget for 2025-26

Surat : Surat, the cleanest city in India, witnessed the presentation of its draft budget for the financial year 2025-26 by Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agarwal. The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has proposed a historic budget of Rs 9603 crore, out of which Rs 4562 crore has been allocated for development projects. The budget was tabled before the Standing Committee, emphasizing the city’s commitment to infrastructure enhancement, environmental conservation, and public health.

A significant portion of the budget focuses on infrastructure development, with Rs 130 crore earmarked for the construction of bridges and Rs 25 crore allocated for the purification of the Tapi River. The SMC has also set an ambitious target of purifying contaminated water by 2035, aiming to supply this treated water to industrial houses, reinforcing the city’s sustainable development goals. Additionally, Rs 153 crore has been provisioned for the Dumas Sea Face Development project, reflecting the city’s vision to enhance its coastal infrastructure and tourism potential. Public health remains a priority, with Rs 9 crore allocated for healthcare services, and plans to establish 16 new health centers to improve medical accessibility across Surat.

In a groundbreaking move, Surat is set to become the first city in India to introduce an electric bus rapid transit system (EV BRTS). The city’s existing city buses and BRTS fleet will be converted to electric vehicles in 2025-26, promoting green mobility and reducing carbon emissions. This initiative aligns with Surat’s ongoing efforts to adopt sustainable urban transportation solutions and reinforce its position as a model smart city.

The city’s healthcare initiative, ‘Swastha Mahila, Swastha Samaj,’ has made remarkable progress, screening over 5 lakh women for cervical, breast, and oral cancer. A total of 9,71,419 women have been screened under this program, while 9,98,760 men have undergone oral cancer screenings. As a result, 202 cases of breast cancer, 323 cases of oral cancer, and 94 cases of cervical cancer have been diagnosed, with all patients receiving timely medical attention and treatment. This large-scale health screening initiative underscores SMC’s commitment to preventive healthcare and public well-being.

On the revenue front, the SMC has estimated a total income of Rs 5510 crore for 2025-26, compared to Rs 5280 crore in the previous fiscal year. The major sources of revenue include Rs 1025 crore from government grants in lieu of octroi, Rs 889 crore from general tax collection, and Rs 1245 crore from user charges. Additional revenue streams include Rs 160 crore from vehicle tax, Rs 180 crore from business tax, and Rs 1625 crore from non-tax revenue sources. The corporation also anticipates Rs 229 crore from revenue grants, subsidies, and contributions, along with Rs 157 crore from miscellaneous sources.

In terms of expenditure, SMC has allocated 49 percent of its budget to establishment costs, while administrative and general expenses will account for 3 percent. Repair and electricity expenses are expected to consume 19 percent of the budget, with 10 percent allocated to service expenses. Contributions, subsidies, and grants will make up 7 percent of expenditures, while loan charges and other financial expenses account for 1 percent. Notably, 11 percent of the budget has been set aside for flood relief measures, reflecting the city’s proactive approach to disaster preparedness and climate resilience.