SDMC posts record property tax collection

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation has posted a "record" collection of property tax for the first quarter of the current fiscal, amounting to nearly Rs 370 crore.
In a press conference held at the Civic Centre here, SDMC's Standing Committee Chairman Radhey Shyam Sharma said the number of taxpayers too has increased by over 78,000 from the corresponding period last fiscal.
"In the first quarter (April to June), SDMC has collected Rs 368.56 crore in property tax. The corresponding figure for the last fiscal was Rs 276.42 crore. This is a record collection in the history of SDMC since its inception in 2012," Sharma told reporters.

The tax collection for the entire year, is generally thrice the collection for the first quarter, he said. "So, even if we achieve double this amount, we will reach over Rs 700 crore, which will be a record annual collection," he said.
The number of taxpayers for the first quarter of this financial year stands at 3,13,894, an increase of 78,267 from the corresponding period of last fiscal when it was 2,35,627.
Sharma said, from second week of May, about "two lakh advisories" were issued to property owners/occupiers, of which 1,54,000 are commercial properties and 40,000 government properties or buildings or big complexes or farm houses.

"The response was good and most of the property owners paid their taxes," he added.

"At present there are 3,85,000 registered property tax payers and plan is afoot to provide them unique id cards like voter cards with name, account and ledger details. Our aim is to widen the corporation's tax net," he said.
The SDMC, which is the only municipal corporation among all the three to stay out of the red, has augmented its revenue generation through other sources.
"We cover about 638 sq km in terms of our expanse and besides, property tax, we earn through parking and advertising," a senior SDMC official said.

"Our annual earning from parking was Rs 6 crore, but after introduction of e-auction, it has jumped to Rs 52 crore a year. Also, there has been a significant jump in advertising revenues after implementing e-auction," he added.