Gandhinagar civic body initiates process for levying property tax

The Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation (GMC) has begun the process for levying property tax, which is one of the major revenue sources for any corporation.

GMC has approved a proposed draft of the tax rules as per the Bombay Province Municipal Corporation Act, tabled by the municipal commissioner at its general body meeting on Wednesday.

It has invited suggestions and objections from citizens regarding the same. GMC has formed rules for assessment of the properties in the capital city of the state.

"Now political parties and citizens can give their suggestions as well as objections to the proposed draft of the tax rules. We will consider it before finalising the rules regarding assessment of properties. Suggestions that are found to be fit to be accepted, will be done," said Mahendrasinh Rana, mayor of Gandhinagar.

He added that the tax formula used and property tax charges of other municipal corporations of the state will also be taken into consideration before finalising anything.

"After studying the formula used by other corporations to compute property tax, we will go for one which charges the lowest rates," said Rana.

Rana, however, said that the whole process is likely to take more than a year. He further said that they have asked the state government for more grant and if the government relents then GMC will not impose property tax on the citizens in the near future.