The Belagavi City Corporation has been granted ₹127.50 crore under the state government’s Mahatma Gandhi Urban Development Scheme. As part of this initiative, a total of ₹1,530 crore has been distributed among ten cities across Karnataka, with Mysore City Corporation receiving the highest allocation of ₹250 crore.
The funds allocated are for the period 2024-25 to 2026-27, and a detailed plan for utilizing Belagavi’s share is currently being prepared. While most cities received ₹127.50 crore uniformly, Urban Development Minister Bairati Suresh used discretionary powers to allocate additional funds to four cities, resulting in variations in the overall distribution.
Mysore received an extra ₹122.50 crore, followed by Tumkur with ₹72.50 crore, Mangalore ₹37.50 crore, and Bijapur ₹22.50 crore, creating significant differences in the funding levels.
City-Wise Fund Allocation
Here is the fund distribution among the city corporations:
Mysore: ₹250 crore
Tumkur: ₹200 crore
Mangalore: ₹165 crore
Bijapur: ₹150 crore
Belagavi: ₹127.50 crore
Ballari: ₹127.50 crore
Davangere: ₹127.50 crore
Shimoga: ₹127.50 crore
Gulbarga: ₹127.50 crore
Hubli-Dharwad: ₹127.50 crore
The Mahatma Gandhi Urban Development Scheme was introduced in 2019 by then Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa during the BJP regime. Despite the change in government in 2023, the Congress-led administration has continued the scheme. However, questions have arisen regarding the equitable distribution of funds among corporators in Belagavi.
Back in 2019, the Belagavi City Corporation was under administrative control, with no elected representatives to influence the allocation of resources. Now, with ₹127.50 crore sanctioned, how much of it will directly contribute to the city’s developmental progress remains uncertain.
