Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Six metropolitan cities across the country have announced a combined budget of more than Rs 53.03 billion for the upcoming fiscal year 2026/27.
Among the metropolitan cities, Kathmandu has presented the largest budget, while Biratnagar presented the smallest spending plan for the coming fiscal year.
Biratnagar, Birgunj and Lalitpur presented their respective budgets on Wednesday, and Bhratrpur on Monday. Kathmandu and Pokhara unveiled their respective budgets on June 18 and June 19, respectively.
All local units must bring their budget for fiscal year 2026/27, which begins on July 17, by Ashad 10 as per the Bikram Sambat calendar, which falls on June 24 this year.
Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has unveiled a budget of Rs 25.88 billion for 2026/27. This accounts for nearly half of the total budget announced by the six metropolises. According to the budget presented by Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol, 61% of the budget, or Rs 15.31 billion, has been earmarked for infrastructure development. The metropolis has also allocated Rs 2.42 billion for social development, Rs 2.13 billion for governance and intergovernmental relations, Rs 4.71 billion for administration and office operations, and Rs 541.8 million for economic development.
Similarly, Lalitpur Metropolitan City (LMC) has announced a budget of Rs 7.49 billion. The budget outlay is largely unchanged from the current fiscal year. Of the total allocation, Rs 4.24 billion has been allocated for capital expenditure and Rs 3.25 billion for recurrent spending. The metropolis said ward-level programs and sectoral development projects would receive priority during the fiscal year.
Pokhara Metropolitan City has presented a budget of Rs 7.15 billion for 2026/27. The budget is Rs 1.19 billion lower than the current fiscal year’s allocation of Rs 8.35 billion. Of the total budget, Rs 3.94 billion, or 55.1% of the total allocation, has been earmarked for recurrent expenditure and Rs 3.21 billion (44.9%) for capital expenditure.
Similarly, Bharatpur Metropolitan City has announced a budget of Rs 5.51 billion, up from Rs 5.22 billion in the current fiscal year. The city projects internal revenue of Rs 2.04 billion and expects significant transfers from federal and provincial governments. Social security and intergovernmental delegated programs are expected to account for more than Rs 1.25 billion in expenditure.
Birgunj Metropolitan City has unveiled a Rs 4.42 billion spending plan for 2026/27, up by Rs 1.19 billion from the current fiscal year’s allocation. The metropolis has set aside 54.3% of the budget, or Rs 2.4 billion for recurrent expenditure, 44.46%, or Rs 1.96 billion for capital expenditure, and 1.1%, or Rs 50 million, for financial management.
Meanwhile, Biratnagar Metropolitan City has announced a budget of Rs 3.56 billion. The spending plan is about Rs 100 million lower than the current fiscal year’s allocation.
The city has allocated the largest share—Rs 1.60 billion—for infrastructure development, including ward-level and city-level projects, multi-year priority schemes and settlement of past liabilities.
