BMC budget: Rs 4,248 crore earmarked for education; NCC units, 20,000 tablets, CBSE school, AI lab on cards

MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed an education outlay of Rs 4,248.08 crore for 2026-27, a 7.4% increase over last year’s budget estimate of Rs 3,955.64 crore. The allocation includes a slew of initiatives ranging from National Cadet Corps (NCC) units in schools to digital classrooms, English language labs and a new CBSE school.Under the plan, NCC squads will be introduced for students of standards VIII and IX in BMC schools. Special coaching classes will be organised for students appearing for government drawing grade examinations, and three art excellence centres — one each in south Mumbai (city), eastern suburbs and western suburbs — will offer specialised training.A new CBSE board school under the Mumbai Public School model will be set up at Kondiwita in K-East ward in the coming academic year.

Rajshree Shirwadkar, newly elected chairperson of the BMC education committee, said, “Students and parents have responded very well to ICSE and CBSE boards. The IB board has seen a relatively muted response because of its different curriculum. That is why we have introduced another CBSE school.

”The civic body will distribute 20,000 tablets to Std IX students and digitise 7,953 classrooms across 1,203 schools with LED interactive panels.

As many as 479 English language labs for Std VIII to X students are being set up at a cost of Rs 3.87 crore. Science laboratories in 190 schools will be upgraded, while a science park will be launched on a pilot basis in two schools at Rs 5 crore.After 55 schools set up astronomical laboratories last year, 40 more have been added this year at a cost of Rs 3 crore. The Scout Guide Camp at Filterpada in Goregaon will be upgraded with better facilities.Infrastructure works including repairs, reconstruction and new construction in 72 schools will be undertaken at Rs 340 crore. CCTV cameras will be installed in all suburban division school buildings at Rs 42 crore, after city division schools were covered last year. Contracts for maintenance, cleaning and security of 469 school buildings will be awarded at Rs 180 crore.The BMC’s 19 public libraries will receive Rs 39 lakh, while the Asiatic Society of Mumbai has been granted Rs 75 lakh.

Libraries will be upgraded with competitive exam material and improved facilities. Musical instruments including harmonium, tabla, dholki, tarpora, keyboard, flute, manjira, cymbals, conga and dholak will also be procured for schools.The civic body will continue its free bus travel scheme for students in uniform through Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST). Last year, 9,627 students availed of the service.Shirwadkar said the budget was prepared entirely by the administration before the new corporators took charge. “Setting up an artificial intelligence lab is a passion project, and I will try to see it through. One of my key priorities is to stop the shutting down of Marathi schools, which is possible only if we increase enrolment in Marathi medium schools,” she said.