BHAKTAPUR, June 23: Bhaktapur Municipality has presented a budget of Rs 2.47311 billion for the upcoming Fiscal Year (FY) 2025/26. The budget was tabled by Deputy Mayor Rajani Joshi during the 18th municipal assembly meeting chaired by Mayor Sunil Prajapati.
Of the total budget, Rs 1.52 billion, or 61.67 percent, has been allocated for recurrent expenditure, Rs 804.8 million, or 32.54 percent, for capital expenditure, and Rs 143 million, or 5.78 percent, for financial management. The budget is funded through the municipality's internal revenue, grants from the federal and provincial governments, and revenue from municipal land sales.
The education sector received the largest share of the budget, with Rs 540.4 million i.e. 21.85 percent of the total allocated to various programs. The health sector has also been prioritized, with Rs 103.7 million allocated, including Rs 50 million to upgrade Khwopa Hospital and Rs 7.5 million to complete the construction of Khwopa Health Post.
What is missing in budget for agriculture?
In line with its commitment to heritage conservation, the municipality has allocated over Rs 126.8 million for the restoration and preservation of various cultural and historical sites, including Rs 30 million for the Indrayani Dyoche temple, Rs 10 million for the reconstruction of Siddha Pokhari, Rs 3 million for Thantoo Palace, Rs 1.6 million for the Ikhalachi Monastery, and additional funding for other heritage restoration works.
The municipality has earmarked Rs 2.5 million for the construction of a modern slaughterhouse, Rs 10 million for a cold storage facility, and Rs 3 million to complete and operate the municipal vegetable market. To improve drinking water supply, Rs 5 million has been allocated, while Rs 202.2 million has been set aside for environmental sanitation, and Rs 49 million for tourism promotion.
Several infrastructure projects have been included in the budget, such as Rs 149 million for continuing the construction of the Arniko Assembly Hall, Rs 40 million for land pooling at Deko Miwa Itapake, Rs 12.5 million for a multipurpose building in Bharbacho, and Rs 6 million for parking facility upgrades.
For sports development, the municipality has allocated Rs 10 million for regular sports training, Rs 5 million for a swimming training center, Rs 10 million for the construction of a martyr memorial stadium, and Rs 20 million for upgrading Maheshwari Sports Ground. Additionally, Rs 2.5 million has been set aside for skill development training.
The municipality has also continued its Rs 15,000 financial assistance program for patients suffering from chronic illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, and spinal injuries. A total of Rs 91.4 million has been allocated for various other development programs.
Deputy Mayor Joshi also presented the "Bhaktapur Municipality Economic Bill 2082" and the "Bhaktapur Municipality Appropriation Bill 2082" during the session. The next meeting of the municipal assembly has been scheduled for June 24 at 1 PM.
