Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has officially greenlit an annual budget of 1050 crore for the 2026-27 fiscal year, marking a strategic pivot toward sustainable urban growth and improved civic delivery.
Presided over by Mayor Sulochana Das and spearheaded by Commissioner Chanchal Rana, the fiscal plan is designed to transform the capital into a cleaner, greener, and more resilient urban hub.
Shri Chanchal Rana, a 2014-batch IAS officer, has initiated an administrative overdrive to overhaul the civic landscape of Bhubaneswar. Since assuming charge as the 17th Commissioner of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and the Vice Chairman of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority, Shri Rana has prioritized a citizen-first governance model that emphasizes immediate results and long-term urban resilience.
Under the new 1050 crore budget, the Commissioner is enforcing a zero-tolerance policy regarding public health and sanitation. He has led the council’s unanimous decision to impose a complete ban on gutkha sales within municipal limits. This includes a strict mandate to cancel the licenses of vendors in OMFED booths and vending zones found in violation, alongside the immediate removal of all gutkha-related advertisements from the city skyline.
To ensure the capital is prepared for the 2026 monsoon, Shri Rana has placed the engineering wing in an overdrive mode. He has set firm deadlines for the completion of critical drainage projects at ISKCON and Rasulgarh. His strategy also involves a shift toward fiscal efficiency, directing that Urban Health and Wellness Centres currently in rented buildings be moved to government-owned premises to eliminate unnecessary rental expenditure. With additional roles as the Managing Director of Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited, Shri Rana’s integrated approach aims to modernize the city’s digital and physical infrastructure while maintaining its rich cultural heritage.
The administrative style of Shri Rana’s leadership is heavily focused on resolving long-standing urban challenges and improving the quality of life for residents through direct intervention and meticulous planning.
The total outlay of 1050 crore reflects a growth of approximately 49 crore over the previous year. Of this amount, the corporation aims to generate 300 crore from its internal revenue sources, while the remaining 750 crore is expected to flow from central and state government grants. Officials noted that the city is now working under a mandate to increase its own revenue by 12.65 percent annually to remain eligible for specific performance-based grants.
Infrastructure and sanitation remain the cornerstones of the new roadmap. A significant 200 crore has been earmarked specifically for sanitation services, complemented by 182 crore for general cleaning operations. In a move to bolster the city’s transport and drainage networks, the budget allocates 90 crore for new road construction and 75 crore for the development of modern drainage systems. To tackle the perennial issue of waterlogging, Commissioner Rana has directed that critical drainage projects at ISKCON and Rasulgarh be completed before the monsoon onset.
The 2026-27 strategy also places a heavy premium on public health and social responsibility. A complete ban on the sale of gutkha within municipal limits was unanimously approved, with the administration vowing to cancel the licenses of any vendors in OMFED booths or vending zones found in violation. Furthermore, the corporation plans to streamline healthcare by shifting Urban Health and Wellness Centres from rented buildings to self-owned government premises to optimize administrative spending.
Other key sectoral allocations include 40 crore for city-wide lighting and electrification, 15.75 crore for the modernization of crematoriums, and 12 crore for the animal birth control program.
Commissioner Shri Rana, known for his citizen-centric approach, has also emphasized the swift resolution of public grievances through regular hearings, ensuring that the ambitious 1050 crore investment translates into tangible lifestyle improvements for every resident of Bhubaneswar.