GVMC approves record Rs 5,614 cr budget for FY25

Visakhapatnam: The general council of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), the largest urban civic body in Andhra Pradesh, on Tuesday adopted a budget of Rs 5,614 crore for 2024-25 amid noisy protests by the Opposition parties.

This is the highest-ever budget for any civic body in Andhra Pradesh. Mayor Golagani Hari Venkata Kumari, who presided, termed the budget progressive and narrated how they are committed to make Visakhapatnam a world-class city with significant improvement in the basic amenities. The Opposition members described the budget as a jugglery of figures and unrealistic and an attempt to mislead the public in an election year.

At one point of time, pandemonious scenes created when the unruly members tried to encircle the Mayor’s podium. They raised slogans questioning the budget presentation without discussing pressing problems arising out of the indefinite strike by the sanitation and Anganwadi workers. Jana Sena member Kandula Nagaraju was later suspended and TDP corporators staged a walk out in protest against refusal to have a free and fair debate over the budget and other important issues.

The budget, which was cleared by the standing committee last week, has an increase in allocation of nearly 25 per cent with an opening balance of Rs 664 crore. Last year, GMVC which had approved a budget for Rs 4,303 crore later pegged it at Rs 3,793 crore.The budget for next financial year lays emphasis on engineering projects with an allocation of Rs 1366 crore. Various projects have been allotted Rs 1046 crore. From property tax, an increase by 10 per cent is expected.

Earlier, CPI (M) floor leader M Ganga Rao said the budget is not realistic as the projections are based on inflated figures. CPI member MJ Stalin said every budget meeting has turned into a farce with no meaningful discussion on the allocations. TDP member Peela Srinivasa Rao described the budget as an old wine in a new bottle and nothing new to improve quality of life in the city. He said despite being described as a smart city, various locations still lack proper streetlights, parks and drainage.