The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has announced the introduction of a user fee for solid waste management (SWM) services. The fee will apply to all households for the collection of garbage and will be collected along with property tax from the year 2025–26. BBMP is expected to continue the SWM cess it already collects every year along with property tax. While the proposal had been held off earlier, due to widespread opposition, the announcement in the BBMP budget signifies the approval it has received from the state government.
Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) has been allocated Rs 1,400 crore in the 2025-26 budget for waste collection, transportation, segregation, landfill development, and the maintenance of processing units.
Alongside waste management, BBMP’s 2025-26 budget—with a total outlay of Rs 19,927.08 crore—prioritises infrastructure, climate resilience, and technology-driven urban governance. 65% of the budget (Rs 12,952.20 crore) is earmarked for development projects, while Rs 1,968.70 crore has been set aside for operation and maintenance expenses.
BBMP will also open new schools in five new outer zones of the city to reach out to more children. Fifteen school buildings are already prepared to welcome students in the upcoming academic session, while construction is underway for 16 more schools, which are expected to be completed within the next year.
To identify defaulters, the BBMP will be integrating e-Khatha and e-Aasthi systems with databases from Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM), Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), and property tax records.
BBMP is also set to expand AI-based technology across its services to streamline processes and improve citizen services. The Sahaya grievance management web application has been upgraded, with expectations of significant cost savings for the civic body.
To enhance accessibility, BBMP is shifting a majority of its services to mobile applications, with plans to introduce new apps such as the Trade License App, Telecom Towers App, Building Plan App, Clean City Waste Management App, Electric Crematorium App, Lakes Management App, and BBMP Asset Management App. The civic body also plans to consolidate all existing apps—including Fix Pothole, Sahaaya Public Grievances, e-Khatha, Advertisement, and Property GPS—under a unified BBMP-One-App for better efficiency.
AI-powered data analysis from Safe City cameras and BBMP vehicle surveillance will be used to detect illegal constructions, potholes, water stagnation points, garbage accumulation, unauthorised advertisements, and pedestrian encroachments. Rs 40 crore has been allocated for these technological advancements.
To tackle urban flooding, BBMP has announced a Rs 247.25 crore project under the National Disaster Relief Fund for flood mitigation in Bengaluru’s most vulnerable areas. The Karnataka government, with World Bank assistance, has set aside Rs 2,000 crore to enhance Bengaluru’s climate resilience. A key initiative includes constructing barriers along 174 km of the rajakaluve (primary stormwater drains) to prevent flooding in densely populated areas. The World Bank is expected to release Rs 500 crore as part of this effort, which will be implemented over three years.
In a move to ensure water security and sustainability, BBMP has announced that borewells and reverse osmosis (RO) plants within its jurisdiction will be transferred to the BWSSB. The transfer will include pending state government funds and other financial sources after deducting maintenance costs.
For lake conservation and ecological sustainability, Rs 210 crore has been allocated for the development and maintenance of lakes across Bengaluru. BBMP plans to establish bird repositories across all city lakes as part of its biodiversity conservation efforts.