NDMC presents 2018-19 budget estimates

The NDMC's budget estimates for 2018-19 were presented today with the proposal of a single slab of 15 per cent for residential and 20 per cent for commercial property taxes.
Proposals for imposition of betterment and professional taxes were also presented.
Presenting the budget, North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) Commissioner Madhup Vyas proposed simplification and rationalisation of property taxes.
There are eight categories of residential properties and taxes ranging from 7 to 12 per cent. The proposed 15 per cent tax on residential properties will cover all these categories.
For all categories of commercial properties, the current rate is 15 per cent, which is proposed to be enhanced to 20 per cent.

The budget estimates to collect Rs 725 crore in 2018-19. The rebate on one-time payment of property tax by June 30, is proposed to be slashed from the existing 15 per cent to 10 per cent.

The civic body is also developing an interactive portal for property tax, and at present, details of 4.5 lakh properties have been digitised, the commissioner said.
In line with the recommendations of the second and third Delhi Finance Commission, a betterment tax at the annual rate of 15 per cent was proposed by the commissioner for financing infrastructure works, development of transportation facilities and redevelopment of colonies.

The professional tax would come under three categories of Rs 1,200, Rs 2,400 and Rs 2,500 per annum, he said, adding that a special cell would be formed to compare database and realise the tax from processionals living in the NDMC area.
"We hope with these measures, the NDMC will be financially self-reliant by the end of the 2019," the official said.
However, the chairman of the standing committee of the BJP-ruled civic body, Tilak Raj Kataria said that the proposed taxes will be discussed thoroughly and a final decision would be taken keeping in mind the interests of the people.

The commissioner in his budget estimates also highlighted various initiatives and proposals in different areas, including education, health and sanitation.
It has also been proposed to install 20,000 CCTV cameras in sensitive areas of the civic body with funds from a central government scheme.
It was also highlighted that the NDMC has trained 503 teachers of its schools to work for identification and rehabilitation of children addicted to drugs. Thirty such students were rehabilitated.
The commissioner said that community toilets would be handed over to private agencies for proper maintenance. The civic body would bear 50 per cent of the interest amount on loan taken by sanitation workers for medical and engineering education of their children, he said.

Parking facilities would be developed further with multi- storey parkings at the Shiva Market (Pitampura) and Rani Bagh besides providing basement parkings at ground level facilities at Gandhi Maidan and Chandni Chowk.
The budget estimate proposed total revenue of Rs 8,562.28 crore and total expenditure of 8,562.13 crore, for 2018-19. The revised estimate for 2017-18 total revenue is 5,765.96 crore and expenditure is 5,765.66 crore.