India’s richest municipality BMC goes to polls:With a budget size of over ₹74,000 crore for FY26, here’s a look at various income sources of the corporation

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is the richest civic body in India. As elections have begun, more than 1 crore eligible citizens are expected to caste their ballots on Thursday, 15 January 2026. As elections go on, lets see how rich is the civic. Let’s break it down! A Mountain of Cash The BMC is known to be the wealthiest municipal corporations in India. It sits on a huge pile of cash reserves. In February 2025, the BJP ruled Maharashtra government had presented the state’s largest ever budget of total size of ₹74,427.41 crore for the financial year 2025-26. BMC’s various income sources: So, what are the BMC’s various sources of income? Property Tax: This is the biggest chunk. It’s like rent that every property owner in Mumbai pays to the BMC each year. The amount depends on the size and location of the property, various types of fees and charges like stamp duty. Taxes on Goods: When goods are imported into Mumbai, the BMC imposes taxes Development Charges: When builders construct new buildings, they pay fees to the BMC. Water Charges: Mumbaikars pay for the water they use, and this money goes to the BMC. Other Sources of income subsume license fees, advertisements, and renting out its properties. What are the BMC’s expenditures? Now, what does the BMC do with all this money? It spends it on management of the city and taking care of its people: Roads and Bridges: Building and maintaining roads, flyovers, and bridges. Water Supply: Ensuring that everyone gets clean drinking water. Garbage Collection: Keeping the city clean by collecting and disposing of garbage. Hospitals and Healthcare: Running hospitals and providing medical services. Schools: Running schools and providing education. Public Parks and Gardens: Creating and maintaining green spaces for people to relax. Other Services: Fire services, street lighting, and other essential services. Top Richest Municipal Corporations in India The BMC is usually at the top of the list of the richest municipal corporations in India. Other wealthy ones include:
These cities are economic hubs and generate a lot of revenue for their respective municipal corporations. BMC Elections 2026: What’s at Stake? The BMC elections are a going to be a big deal because it will decide who will run the city for the next five years. Political parties are fighting hard to win the election because controlling the BMC means controlling a huge budget and having the power to shape the city’s future. Major Political Parties: Big parties like Shiv Sena, BJP, Congress, and NCP are competing. Key Issues: Issues like roads, water supply, garbage collection, and affordable housing are major topics of discussion. Promises: Parties have made promises for bringing ground breaking work. The BMC is a rich organisation that plays a vital role in running Mumbai. It earns money from various sources and spends it on providing essential services to the city’s residents. The BMC elections are a crucial event that determines the future of Mumbai.