Howrah wards to rise from 50 to 68 as Bengal Assembly passes Bill

A special one-day session of the West Bengal Assembly on Wednesday passed the Howrah Municipal Corporation Amendment Bill, 2026, proposing to increase the number of wards in the civic body from 50 to 68.

Urban Development and Municipal Affairs minister Agnimitra Paul said the restructuring was aimed at improving civic services and was driven by changes in population distribution.

"The decision to increase the number of wards has been taken because of variations in population. Once the wards are reorganised, citizens will receive civic services more effectively," Paul said.

The Assembly also withdrew an amendment bill passed by the House on February 7.

Govt unveils Howrah master plan

Paul said the state government has prepared a special master plan for Howrah, with a focus on repairing roads, improving the supply of treated drinking water and creating a permanent drainage system.

She said the plan was intended to address the city's recurring waterlogging problems. During her speech, Paul also criticised the previous Trinamool Congress government over issues including poor roads, inadequate drainage, illegal constructions and drinking water shortages.

"Even after a little rain in Howrah, water remains stagnant for two to three days," Paul said.

Civic polls likely after festive season

With the delimitation amendment now passed, Howrah's pending civic elections are expected to be held later this year, after the festive season.

However, Paul said the government would consult the State Election Commission before deciding the schedule.

"We will not decide on the timing of the municipal elections sitting in our party offices. It will be decided after consulting the state election commission," Paul said.

She also alleged that the previous government had delayed the civic polls due to concerns over the electoral outcome.

BJP raises funding, unpaid dues

Paul alleged that Howrah had been deprived of Rs 200 crore in municipal financial allocations during the previous TMC regime. She also claimed that the civic body had unpaid dues of more than Rs 400 crore to employees and contractors.

"Political considerations of the previous regime led to Howrah getting deprived of Rs 200 crore in municipal allocations by the Centre," she said.

Paul said the governor had returned the February amendment bill seeking additional information, following which the state government withdrew it and moved the fresh legislation to expand the number of wards.

Meanwhile, the state government also tabled a Bill to amend the Kolkata Municipal Corporation Act. The proposal seeks to increase the number of Kolkata's wards from 144 to 209.