BENGALURU, 28 MARCH

Bruhat Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Bengaluru’s civic body, will present its annual Budget for 2025-2026 on 29 March, with the total outlay expected to surpass Rs 18,000 crore, marking a 37.3 per cent increase from last year’s Rs 13,116 crore.
This marks the fifth consecutive year that the Budget will be presented without an elected council, as Bengaluru has been under the governance of an administrator since September 2020, following delayed elections. A key highlight is the Rs 7,000 crore grant promised by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for the City’s development. However, the question remains: who will ensure the transparent and efficient use of these funds?

‘A Budget without vision’
Several citizens and activists across Bengaluru have expressed their concerns, calling it a pointless exercise where the BBMP resembles a “headless chicken running amok.”
Prakash Belawadi, an actor and civic activist, told Salar News: “The government isn’t interested in managing Bengaluru and has never given real power to BBMP. The State always sits on top of it, with the Chief Minister as the final authority who approves projects. This budget won’t be based on a scientific approach—it’s just a performance with no meaningful outcome.”

‘The struggle for infra’
Recent rains have exposed the City’s crumbling infrastructure, particularly in road maintenance and stormwater drainage. Water conservation expert Raj Bhagat highlighted the need to improve stormwater drainage systems, especially in flood-prone areas where natural water flow paths have been blocked. “The government must focus on enhancing and maintaining stormwater drains and constructing new ones, including roadside drains in valley areas between lakes,” he said.
“Use every rupee judiciously—for better walkability, cycling infrastructure, streetlights, solid waste management, drainage systems, roads, and more. We do not want our money wasted on tunnel roads and skydecks,” said the convener of Citizens for Citizens. Srinivas Alavilli, a civic activist, said he hopes to see significant investments in modern waste processing centres and improved transport of waste to landfills. Furthermore, he urged for a strengthened climate action cell.  “For years, BBMP spent on infrastructure, yet has little to show in terms of improved quality of life. If they can just get one thing right, let it be well-designed footpaths everywhere.  With the right budget—and commitment— it can be a game changer in making Bengaluru more liveable, Meera K, Co-founder of Citizen Matters and Oorvani Foundation, said.