Budget of six metropolitan cities compared

KATHMANDU: Most of the local units across the country have brought their respective budget for the fiscal year 2023/24.

As per the constitutional provision, local units are required to bring the budget for the new fiscal year by June 25.

All six metropolitan cities in the country have brought their fiscal budget. Kathmandu Metropolitan City, which is also the federal capital, has proposed to invest Rs 25.54 billion in 2023/24, slightly higher than Rs 25.41 billion allocated for the current fiscal year.

Lalitpur Metropolitan City, another metropolis in the Kathmandu Valley, has tabled a budget of Rs 6.5 billion, 2.32% more than the budget allocated for the current fiscal year. The metropolis has allocated Rs 6.35 billion in the current fiscal year.

The third metropolis in the Bagmati Province, Bharatpur Metropolitan City, meanwhile, has significantly raised its budget for the coming fiscal year. The metropolis has proposed to invest Rs 6.31 billion in the fiscal year 2023/24, up from Rs 5.74 billion allocated in the current fiscal year.

On the other hand, Pokhara Metropolitan City has reduced its budget significantly. The only metropolis in the Gandaki Province has allocated Rs 7.15 billion for 2023/24, compared to Rs 8.77 billion allocated in the current fiscal year.

Biratnagar Municipality of Koshi Province has slightly lowered its allocations for 2023/24 to Rs 3.28 billion. The metropolis has allocated Rs 3.62 billion in the current fiscal year.

Likewise, Birgunj Metropolitan City of Koshi Province, too, has lowered its budget for the next fiscal year to Rs 3.21 billion down from Rs 3.33 billion allocated in the current fiscal year.