No impact of civic poll in Faridabad; marginal increase in budget likely

With the metropolitan city set to get an elected body to run routine works, the focus remains on the financial health of the civic body, as its budget for 2025-26 is expected to be approved by the government soon.

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The civic body election is unlikely to have a major impact on its budget this year, as per sources in the civic administration, who claim that the budget proposal for the upcoming financial period is likely to witness a marginal increase.

The annual budget for 2024-25 is around Rs 1,300 crore.

Though the civic body may have to incur additional expenses in form of operation costs of the offices of the Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor, the budget proposals submitted to the government do not seem to be matching the increased demand and responsibilities of the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF), claimed the sources.

The government was expected to increase the budget and the grants to meet the fund requirement to carry out development works in various wards, and the 24 villages that had been incorporated within the civic limits in 2020, said an official on condition of anonymity.

He said though the work responsibilities of the MCF had been reduced and divided due to the transfer of major development projects to the Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority (FMDA), the work related to creation and upkeep of the civic amenities in 24 villages and 100 colonies regularised last year were an issue of concern.

"While the issue had led to the issuance of a chargesheet against a senior official last month, for alleged delay in development works, the authorities cannot ignore the need of a robust budget in wake of poor civic conditions prevailing for the past few years," said Deepak Chaudhary, a former corporator.

The MC elections, after a gap of around eight years, have raised the expectations of people for speedy development of basic amenities, said Varun Sheokand, a resident. A hike of 20 to 25 per cent was expected in the budget to improve the financial health of the civic body, he said.

As the number of wards had gone up to 46 from 40, the financial condition might adversely affect development works as the sources of internal income of the civic body had been poor compared to the expenses, it is added.

Birender Kumar Kardam, Chief Engineer, MCF, said while a budget proposal for the upcoming financial year had been submitted, it might be increased by 10 per cent.