KATHMANDU: Among Nepal’s six metropolitan cities, five excluding Kathmandu have announced their budgets for the fiscal year 2082/83 within the constitutional timeframe. Of these, Pokhara has brought the largest budget, while Birgunj has declared the smallest.
Pokhara Metropolitan City: Rs 8.35 billion
Pokhara Metropolitan City has presented a budget of Rs 8.35 billion for the upcoming fiscal year. Deputy Mayor Manju Devi Gurung tabled the budget during the 17th Municipal Assembly.
The city expects to receive Rs 3.13 billion in federal conditional grants, Rs 330.8 million from federal revenue sharing, Rs 528.7 million through federal equalization grants, and Rs 81.5 million via provincial equalization grants. Internal sources are projected to generate Rs 5.22 billion in revenue, with an additional Rs 1.01 billion from local revenue sharing and Rs 428 million from provincial revenue sharing.
Lalitpur Metropolitan City: Rs 7.46 billion
Lalitpur Metropolitan City has presented a budget of Rs 7.46 billion for fiscal year 2082/83.
Deputy Mayor Manjali Shakya Bajracharya stated that Rs 2.79 billion has been allocated for recurrent expenditure while Rs 4.68 billion is set aside for capital spending.
Bharatpur Metropolitan City: Rs 5.19 billion
Bharatpur Metropolitan City has brought forward a budget of Rs 5.19 billion.
Deputy Mayor Chitrasen Adhikari presented the plan in the 17th municipal assembly. The budget anticipates Rs 1.8 billion in internal income, Rs 2.15 billion through inter-governmental fiscal transfers, Rs 319.1 million in federal revenue sharing, and Rs 140.4 million in provincial revenue sharing.
The city also projects Rs 50 million from public participation, Rs 700 million from bank reserves, and Rs 30 million from the Roads Board Nepal.
Biratnagar Metropolitan City: Rs 4.4 billion
Biratnagar Metropolitan City’s budget stands at Rs 4.4 billion.
Deputy Mayor Shilpa Karki, who presented the budget, said it includes expected federal and provincial equalization grants worth Rs 379.6 million and Rs 1.19 billion from revenue sharing. Internal revenue is expected to contribute Rs 1.4 billion, while Rs 140 million is projected from cash reserves.
The city is also expecting Rs 833.4 million in federal conditional and supplementary grants, Rs 42.4 million in provincial conditional grants, Rs 15 million from the Nepal Road Board, and Rs 1.6 million from other sources.
Of the total budget, Rs 647.5 million is allocated for administrative expenses, Rs 50 million for loan repayment, and Rs 80 million for pending payments from the current fiscal year.
Birgunj Metropolitan City: Rs 3.22 billion
Birgunj Metropolitan City has declared a budget of Rs 3.22 billion, the smallest among the metropolises. Deputy Mayor Imtiaz Alam presented the budget during the 17th session of the municipal assembly.
Of the total, Rs 2.26 billion has been allocated for recurrent expenditure, which accounts for 70.24 percent of the budget. Capital expenditure makes up Rs 923.4 million, or 28.64 percent, while Rs 36.4 million has been set aside for financial management.
While other major cities have completed their budget announcements, Kathmandu Metropolitan City has yet to confirm whether its budget will be presented, adding uncertainty to the process. Kathmandu traditionally brings the largest annual budget among local governments in Nepal.
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