Mumbai: Lucknow Municipal Corporation Mayor Sushma Kharkwal participated in the “National Consultation on Fiscal Empowerment of City Governments” held at the Yashwantrao Chavan Centre in Nariman Point, Mumbai, where she presented Lucknow’s successful urban revenue and financial management model on a national platform.
The consultation, organised by Praja Foundation, brought together elected representatives, urban finance experts, and officials from municipal bodies across the country to discuss financial sustainability and innovative governance models for city administrations.
Lucknow Municipal Corporation councillor Saurabh Singh Monu and Chief Tax Assessment Officer Vinay Kumar Rai also attended the programme. The opening session featured the presentation of the “Urban Local Bodies Fiscal Empowerment Report 2026,” followed by detailed discussions on strengthening the financial autonomy of urban local bodies.
Mayor Sushma Kharkwal participated as a panelist in the first session on strengthening municipal self-revenue sources. During her address, she highlighted how Lucknow Municipal Corporation significantly increased its revenue without imposing new taxes or revising tax rates after 2010.
She informed delegates that property tax revenue rose from Rs 313.81 crore in 2021-22 to Rs 771.06 crore in 2025-26, registering a growth of 145.70 percent. Similarly, revenue from water tax and sewer charges increased from Rs 149.57 crore to Rs 447.95 crore during the same period, reflecting a growth of nearly 199.49 percent.
The Mayor also explained that the number of assessed buildings within municipal limits increased from 5.85 lakh in 2021-22 to over 7.60 lakh in 2025-26 through improved assessment systems and technology-driven reforms. She credited efficient administration, digital tax management, and stronger monitoring mechanisms for the growth in revenue.
Highlighting additional income sources, Sushma Kharkwal said municipal earnings from rental properties increased from Rs 1.81 crore to Rs 4.91 crore, while advertisement and hoarding revenue rose sharply from Rs 2.79 crore to Rs 15.50 crore. Parking fee collection also more than doubled during the period.
The Mayor further stated that user charges from door-to-door waste collection under the solid waste management programme increased from Rs 8.03 crore to Rs 30.01 crore. She also highlighted the success of the corporation’s residential housing initiative “Ahana Enclave,” which generated Rs 226.10 crore through flat construction and sales between 2021 and 2026.
During the consultation, the Mayor announced plans to develop event gardens and sports grounds on vacant municipal land to create new revenue streams while also improving public facilities for citizens. The initiative received appreciation from representatives and experts attending the event.
In another session focusing on innovative urban finance systems, participants discussed infrastructure funding, resource mobilisation, digital taxation, and long-term financial sustainability of municipal bodies. Chief Tax Assessment Officer Vinay Kumar Rai also shared suggestions regarding reforms in municipal laws and administrative frameworks to strengthen transparency and efficiency in urban governance.
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