Tk2,144cr budget for Ctg city, prioritises waterlogging solutions

The Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) today announced a budget of Tk2,145.42 crore for the 2025-26 fiscal year, with a special focus on addressing the city's chronic waterlogging problem. 

This is the first budget presented by Mayor Shahadat Hossain since assuming office. 

In the budget, Waterlogging mitigation received the highest priority, with an allocation of Tk88 crore—up sharply from Tk33 crore the previous year, when actual spending was Tk22.63 crore.

Alongside the new budget, a revised budget of Tk1,221.96 crore was also placed for the outgoing 2024-25 fiscal year. In the previous fiscal year, the total budget was Tk1,981.52 crore, of which 61.66% was implemented.

Mayor Shahadat outlined four key priorities for the coming year: Continuing the recruitment process to fill vacancies in the corporation, providing skill development training to officials, formulating an updated organisational structure, and digitising services to improve operational efficiency.

The corporation aims to increase income from its own sources, setting a revenue target of Tk1,452.1 crore from internal earnings, while Tk1,920.5 crore is expected from government grants.

Highlighting recent achievements in waterlogging prevention, the mayor said 4.1 million cubic feet of silt and garbage were removed from 19 canals at a cost of Tk10.92 crore. Additionally, 148 projects worth Tk5 crore were implemented for drain and sewer cleaning.

Besides, 200 more projects are planned for the monsoon season. Modern methods, including American larvicide technology, are being used for mosquito control, he added. 

The mayor also noted that Tk2.2 crore worth of work is underway to clean the Agrabad Box Culvert in cooperation with the Navy.

Upon taking office, the city corporation's debt stood at Tk596 crore, which has been reduced to Tk400 crore after continuous repayments over the past eight months, the mayor added.

For the 2025-26 fiscal year, Tk635.75 crore has been allocated for operational and maintenance expenses, of which Tk339.3 crore is earmarked for salaries and allowances. 

Tk1,145 crore will fund nine development projects, including road construction, renovations, and other infrastructure improvements. Additionally, Tk149 crore has been set aside for debt servicing.

The budget has allocated Tk9 crore for mosquito control, up from the previous year's Tk8 crore, although only Tk3.8 crore was spent during that period.

In his budget speech, Mayor Shahadat said, "I am committed to transforming Chattogram into a clean, green, safe, and economically vibrant city, and a modern, aesthetic tourist destination."