Major functions of urban local bodies:

1. Municipal functions are, generally, classified into obligatory and discretionary types.

2. The obligatory (compulsary) functions are those that the municipal body must perform. In this category falls such functions as water supply; construction and maintenance of roads, streets, bridges, subways and other public works; street lighting; drainage and sewerage; garbage collection and disposal; prevention and control of epidemics.

3. Some other obligatory functions are public vaccination and inoculation; maintenance of hospitals and dispensaries including maternity and child welfare centres; checking food adulteration; removal of slums; supply of electricity; maintenance of cremation and burial grounds and town planning.

4. In some States some of these functions may be taken over by State Government.

5. The discretionary functions are those that a municipal body may take up if funds permit. These are given less priority. Some of the discretionary functions are construction and maintenance of rescue homes and orphanages, housing for low income groups, organising public receptions, provision of treatment facilities, etc.

6. Municipal Corporations take up more functions than municipalities. There are corporations like Delhi, Mumbai, Vadodara, Pune, Ahmedabad which are known for their various city development activities in such areas as public transport, public parks and open spaces including municipal zoo and even milk and electricity supply.