New Delhi, Sept. 23 -- In a major funding push for civic services, the Delhi government has sanctioned the second instalment of Rs 1,850.66 crore under the Basic Tax Assignment (BTA) for 2026-27, with the lion's share going to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood announced the release on Wednesday, saying the funds would help civic bodies maintain essential services and carry out local infrastructure works across the Capital. The concurrence for the release was approved on September 21.
Of the total amount, MCD will receive Rs 1,820.40 crore, while the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has been allocated Rs 17.95 crore and the Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB) Rs 12.31 crore.
The second instalment forms part of the total BTA allocation of Rs 3,701.32 crore for the financial year. The government had already released the first instalment of Rs 925.33 crore, while the remaining Rs 925.33 crore is scheduled to be released for the January-March 2027 period.
Under the allocation structure, the second instalment covers the July-December 2026 period.
The government said the funds will support core civic responsibilities, including waste collection and garbage disposal, repair and maintenance of neighbourhood roads, streetlights and parks, as well as the functioning of primary schools and local health dispensaries. Sood said timely fund releases were essential for keeping civic works
running. "Our government is committed to transforming Delhi's urban infrastructure and ensuring
financial support for public welfare," he said.
Taking a swipe at the previous government, Sood added, "Under the previous government, funds were constantly delayed, stalling essential public works and creating financial distress for local municipal bodies. We have ended that era of policy paralysis. Our administration is ensuring timely fund releases so that development works run without any hurdles."
The MCD's allocation accounts for nearly 98 per cent of the second instalment, reflecting its significantly larger share of the BTA pool. Its total BTA allocation for 2026-27 stands at Rs 3,640.80 crore, compared with Rs 35.90 crore for NDMC and Rs 24.61 crore for DCB.
The minister also directed civic bodies to maintain financial discipline while utilising the grants. The funds are to be used strictly for public-interest purposes, with Utilisation Certificates
(UCs) required to be
submitted within the prescribed timelines.
The government said the sanctioned amounts will be transferred directly to the civic bodies through electronic bank transfers, including RTGS and NEFT.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.