The Panchkula Municipal Corporation has ratified a ₹300 crore budget for 2025–26, prioritizing infrastructure upgrades, healthcare access, and social equity. A staggering ₹152.7 crore (51% of the total outlay) has been earmarked for urban development, including road repairs, smart street lighting, and the installation of GPS-enabled waste collection vehicles.

Key highlights include:

• Healthcare: ₹50 lakh for anti-rabies programs, including 24/7 vaccination services at five community centers. Dog-bite victims will receive ₹10,000 compensation per tooth mark, as per Punjab & Haryana High Court directives.
• Housing: Over 1,000 families in slums like Rajiv Colony and Kharak Mangoli will receive 1-marla plots at 2004 collector rates, legalizing their decades-old settlements.
• Transport: PPP-model bus terminals in Gurugram, Faridabad, and Karnal aim to decongest intercity travel.

Opposition leaders, however, criticize the budget’s reliance on “overly optimistic” revenue streams, such as ₹25 crore from unpaid HSVP dues and ₹11 crore from land sales—a target missed entirely in 2024–25. Congress councillor Salim Dabkouri highlighted discrepancies in ad revenue projections, urging greater transparency.

Mayor Goyal defended the allocations, citing the city’s 154% GDP growth over the past decade. “This budget isn’t just about numbers; it’s about building a Panchkula where no one is left behind,” he stated during the marathon council session.