Vadodara Municipal Corporation

Established in July 1950 under the Bombay Provincial Corporation Act, 1949, the VMC is responsible for the civic infrastructure, urban planning, and public administration of the city and its surrounding suburbs. Governing a population of over 2 million and an area of 220 km², the corporation has historically been a pioneer in implementing civic technology in Gujarat, including automated street light controllers and the issuance of green municipal bonds.

History

The civic administration of Vadodara has its roots in the visionary leadership of the Gaekwad dynasty. Prior to Indian independence, the city's civic affairs were managed under the Baroda State. Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III was instrumental in laying the foundation for a modern municipality, introducing underground drainage, planned markets, and piped water supply via the Ajwa reservoir in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Following the integration of Baroda State into the Union of India, the modern Vadodara Municipal Corporation was established in July 1950 under the Bombay Provincial Corporation Act, 1949 (which was later adopted by the Gujarat government upon the state's formation in 1960). The corporation was set up to streamline civic operations and provide democratic representation to the residents of Vadodara.

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Administration

The governing structure of the VMC consists of a political wing and an administrative wing.

The political wing is an elected body of councillors headed by a Mayor. The administrative wing is headed by the Municipal Commissioner, an officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), who wields executive power and is appointed by the Government of Gujarat. The Commissioner is responsible for strategic and operational planning, developing and maintaining civic infrastructure like water supply, roads, and drainage, and efficient delivery of various services. The Commissioner takes decisions on behalf of the board or the standing committee.

The office of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation is located in the historic Khanderao Market on Chamaraja Road. The road was named after Chamaraja Wodeyar, the Maharaja of Mysore, to earmark his close friendship with Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III.

Legislature

In order to make the administration of the city convenient, it has been divided into 19 administrative wards across four primary zones (North, South, East, West). For each ward, 4 councillors (also known as corporators) are elected, making a total of 76 seats in the corporation. Out of these, 50% of the seats (38 seats) are reserved for women candidates.

The Corporators among themselves elect a Mayor, who serves as the First Citizen of Vadodara. The Mayor holds primarily a ceremonial role of representing and upholding the dignity of the city and presiding over the deliberations of the Corporation, while executive powers remain with the Municipal Commissioner.

As is the case with Legislative Bodies, the elections for electing the Corporators are held every 5 years. The previous elections were held on 26 April 2026.

Current members

The 19 wards of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation and their councillors following the 2026 elections are listed below. The Bharatiya Janata Party maintained its stronghold, winning 69 seats, while the Indian National Congress won 6, and 1 seat went to an Independent.

Finances and Revenue sources

The VMC prepares an annual budget catering to the infrastructural and developmental needs of the city. The VMC's budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 stood at an estimated ₹5,300 crore, focusing heavily on roads, storm water drainage, and public transport infrastructure.

In 2024, Vadodara Municipal Corporation marked a financial milestone by successfully raising ₹1 billion through the issuance of five-year green municipal bonds, carrying a coupon rate of 7.90%. The funds raised from these bonds were earmarked for deployment in three significant water pumping and drainage projects aimed at enhancing the efficiency of sewage water disposal in the region.

Revenue from taxes

Following is the tax-related revenue for the corporation:

Property tax (one of the largest internal revenue sources)
Profession tax
Entertainment tax
Grants from the State Government of Gujarat and Central Government (including GST compensation and Smart City mission grants)
Advertisement tax

Revenue from non-tax sources

Following is the non-tax related revenue for the corporation:

Water usage charges
Fees from Documentation services and building permissions
Rent received from municipal property and auditoriums
Funds from municipal bonds

Controversies and criticism

The VMC has faced routine criticism during the monsoon seasons due to severe waterlogging issues in low-lying areas. The corporation's handling of the Vishwamitri River's floodplains has frequently come under scanner by environmentalists and citizens alike. Unchecked encroachments and inadequate storm-water drain desilting have been blamed for the recurring floods in 2019 and 2024. Additionally, during heavy floods, the VMC has had to deploy special teams to rescue mugger crocodiles that wash up into residential areas from the river.

The corporation has also received flak for delays in major infrastructure projects, including the prolonged beautification phases of the historic Sursagar Lake and the slow pace of pothole repairs across major city arterial roads following the monsoons.

Achievements

The VMC received the inaugural BEE award for "Energy Conservation in Street Lighting" in 2008. The award was given in recognition of the city's outstanding achievements in energy efficiency within its street lighting system on 14 December 2008, by the Union Power Minister. The VMC repeated history again in 2010, by acquiring a second award for 'Energy Conservation in Street Lighting’ from the BEE.

The Corporation is the first in the country to implement international level lighting, life cycle cost, and intelligent street light controllers, with GSM monitoring and controlling systems, manufactured by a local company to provide good service to citizens, remote data collection, and quick maintenance.