The Belagavi City Corporation has been allocated Rs 127.50 crore under the state government’s Mahatma Gandhi Urban Development Scheme. A total of Rs 1,530 crore has been distributed among ten cities in Karnataka through this initiative, with Mysore City Corporation receiving the highest share of ₹250 crore.
The sanctioned funds are designated from 2024-25 to 2026-27. Belagavi’s allocation plan is currently under preparation. While Rs 127.50 crore has been uniformly sanctioned to most cities, the Urban Development Minister, Byrathi Suresh, used his authority to provide additional funds to four cities, adjusting the overall distribution.
Cities like Mysore received an additional Rs 122.50 crore, Bijapur Rs 22.50 crore, Tumakuru Rs 72.50 crore and Mangaluru Rs 37.50 crore. These adjustments have resulted in a notable variation in funding levels across the state.
The Mahatma Gandhi Urban Development Scheme was initially launched in 2019 by the then Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa during the BJP’s tenure. Despite a change in government in 2023, the Congress administration decided to continue the scheme. However, concerns have been raised over the distribution of funds among corporators, sparking debates on equitable allocation.
In 2019, Belagavi City Corporation was under administrative governance, with no elected representatives in place to influence fund usage. Now, with Rs 127.50 crore sanctioned, how much will directly benefit the city’s developmental projects remains to be seen.
