BBMP collects Rs 3,761 as property tax; urges property owners to utilize OTS scheme

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The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has so far collected Rs 3,761 as property tax since the beginning of the current financial year. It has set a target of Rs 5,220 crore as collection in the form of property tax this financial year (by end of March 2025).

The civic body, which aims to achieve Rs 4,000 crore as tax collection by November 30, has also begun sealing premises of tax defaulters. The dues, as per officials, will shoot up almost three times after November 30, when the One Time Settlement (OTS) scheme expires. Hence, BBMP wants citizens to utilize the scheme before it lapses.

According to a report in The Times of India, the civic body had collected Rs 3,761 crore as of November 25 aside from Rs 50 crore collected through demand drafts and other forms.

"We had a meeting with all the zonal commissioners on Monday and fixed an internal target to achieve our goal by the end of November. If we achieve this target, we can easily collect Rs 5,200 crore by the end of March 2025," BBMP chief commissioner Tushar Girinath said.

Urging property owners to make the best use of the OTS scheme, the commissioner said that adhering to the deadline will help people save money as there will be an additional fine after November 30. "From December 1, property owners will have to pay a fine and interest while clearing their dues," he added.

According to a Deccan Herald report, Mahadevapura has contributed a major portion of the tax generated by the civic body with a collection of Rs 981 crore.

Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has already seized or attached 3,605 properties over non-payment of property tax since the beginning of the financial year, an official said on Monday.

These properties, including land parcels, residential and commercial buildings, and industrial and commercial establishments, were seized or attached between April 1 and November 25. The civic body has collected only Rs 218.96 crore dues out of Rs 1,672 crore from these properties, the release said.