Vapi Municipal Corporation Presents Rs.754.97 Crore Budget Without Tax Hike

Vapi | Gujarat — In a move aimed at strengthening civic infrastructure without burdening citizens, the Vapi Municipal Corporation (VMC) on Monday presented a ₹754.97 crore budget for the financial year 2026-27, maintaining its decision not to increase any municipal taxes for the second consecutive year.

The budget was presented by Municipal Commissioner Yogesh Chaudhary in the presence of administrator and district collector Bhavya Verma, who chaired the meeting. Officials said the budget focuses heavily on improving basic infrastructure, especially in the 12 villages recently merged into the municipal limits.

The civic administration has significantly increased the overall outlay compared to last year. While the 2025-26 budget stood at ₹640.89 crore, this year’s allocation has risen by ₹114 crore, reflecting the city’s growing development needs.

Despite the higher budget size, officials reiterated that no new taxes will be imposed until essential civic facilities are fully provided in the newly included areas.

“The government has clearly instructed that tax increases should not be considered until basic amenities reach all newly added villages. Accordingly, this budget has been prepared with a strong focus on infrastructure expansion,” a senior municipal official said.

Water supply gets the largest allocation

The biggest share of the budget has been earmarked for the water supply department, which has received ₹219.43 crore — the highest allocation among all departments.

According to officials, the funds will be used to strengthen the water distribution network and upgrade existing infrastructure. The projects include renovation of water headworks, expansion of pipelines in newly merged villages and implementation of rainwater harvesting systems.

“These projects are being planned keeping in mind the water requirements of the city for the next 30 years,” the commissioner said.

Infrastructure and sanitation projects

Apart from water supply, the Road and Public Works Department has been allocated ₹210 crore to improve roads and public infrastructure across the city. Meanwhile, ₹87.24 crore has been earmarked for drainage works and ₹55.37 crore for sanitation services.

The civic body has also announced several environmental and urban development initiatives. Under the “Clean Vapi, Green Vapi” campaign, authorities plan to plant 50,000 trees across the city to create urban green spaces.

Other key proposals include lake development projects, crematorium upgrades, city beautification drives and affordable housing initiatives. The administration also plans to establish Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres to manage stray cattle and dog populations in the city.