PWD gets top share as infra scores over water projects

Raipur: If the state budget put people at the forefront of all its development plans, Raipur Municipal Corporation (RMC) focussed on addressing the city's infrastructure gaps, pledging more funds for new roads, bridges and urban projects. The RMC declared Rs 139.89 lakh surplus, while projecting its total annual income for fiscal 2026-27 at Rs 1,92,409.12 lakh. At Rs 56,210.70 lakh, the PWD, which is the nodal agency for implementing all infrastructure work in the city, bagged the largest share of the RMC proposed annual expenditure of Rs 2,13,035.13 lakh.Core service departments such as water supply and sanitation, though significant, accounted for a much smaller share of the overall budget, indicating a prioritisation of capital works over operational services in the upcoming financial year.Presenting the budget, Raipur Mayor Meenal Choubey said apart from road expansion, the budget also prioritises high-tech education and water supply projects, adding that the projected revenue in fiscal 2026-27 would be largely driven by taxes, grants and capital receipts.Expanding on the proposed infrastructure push, the mayor outlined the funds set aside for multiple road projects — Rs 30 crore for road widening and bridge construction from SMC Hospital to Aishwarya Windmill; Rs 18 crore for widening and beautification of the stretch from Tatibandh to RD Tiwari School; Rs 5 crore for widening the road from Amapara Chowk to Hind Sporting Ground, thereby reducing pressure in Lakhe Nagar and Sarathi Chowk; and Rs 4 crore to connect Pandri Cloth Market directly to the main road, linking City Centre Mall and the under-construction Unity Mall.In another major takeaway, the mayor also proposed a new 150 MLD water treatment plant in Dunda at a cost of Rs 130.61 crore to serve the growing population in the peripheral areas. Earlier, on January 16, the mayor had announced the formation of a water board to centralise monitoring of the city's water supply.Rising to present the civic budget, the mayor said it proposes high-tech libraries in line with its education push, adding that a central library, with a capacity to seat 500 students, opened on December 25, last year. Another 1,000-seater library was being built near Government Nagarjuna Post Graduate College of Science.In other major announcements, the mayor said working women's hostels were being constructed at Pandri, while financial assistance of Rs 26.30 crore would be extended to 1,530 self-help groups through bank linkage. She pledged funds for the installation of 268 CCTVs in Mathpurena and Bhathagaon residential complexes to enhance security, as well as a dedicated park for persons with disabilities (Divyang Park).A techno tower project near Telibandha Chowk has received administrative approval and construction is to begin soon, the mayor announced. Additionally, there is a plan to route 68 lakh litres of treated water daily from the Nimora STP to an industrial unit in Tilda through a 48-km pipeline. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Akash Tiwari accused the mayor of deceiving the public, claiming there was no mention of promised tax breaks in the budget statement and neither were announcements made in the previous budget been fulfilled.