Rajkot: The standing committee of the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) has unanimously approved the revised budget for the financial year 2026–27, scrapping the ₹95-crore tax hike proposed by the municipal commissioner in last week’s draft budget.

Presenting the revised outlay of ₹3,604.90 crore on Tuesday, standing committee chairman Jaymin Thakar said the elected wing prioritised citizen welfare and infrastructure development without increasing the financial burden on residents. He added that the objective was to ensure improved civic services and greater public satisfaction from the taxes collected.

Furthermore, the RMC also announced an interest-waiver scheme for property and water tax defaulters. Under the scheme, residents can receive a waiver of up to ₹5,000 on interest for pending property tax and an additional ₹5,000 on interest for water tax arrears. Civic officials estimate that nearly 50,000 of the city’s around six lakh properties have outstanding property or water tax dues.

The budget also includes a comprehensive beautification and renovation plan for the Racecourse area. The project proposes traffic-free internal roads, wider footpaths, upgraded gardens, additional seating, a dedicated garden for persons with disabilities, and renovation of public toilets and signage, with ₹10 crore allocated for the initiative.

Further provisions include ₹25 crore for infrastructure to support 100 new e-buses under the PM-eBus Sewa scheme, a pilot SCADA-based water monitoring system to curb wastage, development of a gaming zone beneath the Nana Mauva bridge, and a food zone in Mavdi capable of accommodating around 900 people with a “sky dining” concept. DeshGujarat