Delhi registers lowest direct tax collection growth rate

If the Finance Ministry is concerned about the daunting all India direct tax collections target of Rs 3,87,000 crore, then may be it should look in its backyard. CNBC-TV18's Ashwin Mohan learns that Delhi has registered the lowest collection growth rate amongst 19 income tax circles in India.

Smaller cities have risen to the occasion, while the metros have underperformed.

Delhi's direct tax collections have come in at Rs 49,034 crore as compared to Rs 48,805 crore. Though collections are up 0.5%, the state has posted the lowest growth rate in India.

It must be noted that the data is up to March 15, 2010.

Guwahati recorded the highest all India growth rate of 70% with tax collections at Rs 2,398 crore versus Rs 1,409 crore. Guwahati represents the entire north-east region.

Kanpur, Cochin, Patna, and Lucknow recorded growth rates of 59%, 23%, 22%, and 20% respectively.

Kolkata's direct tax collections are up 9.5% at Rs 12,990 crore as against Rs 11,863 crore. Collections are up 12.5% in Chennai at Rs 20,762 crore versus Rs 18,455 crore.

Mumbai's direct tax collections are up 9.3% at Rs 1.07 lakh crore as compared to Rs 98,709 crore. Collections are up 6.2% in Bangalore at Rs 27,746 crore versus Rs 26,138 crore. Hyderabad direct tax collections are up 12.3% at Rs 15,736 crore as against Rs 14,011 crore.