The Municipal Corporation (MC) in Punjab has reported a significant 55.86 per cent increase in property tax collections during the final six days of September, amassing ₹5.31 crore. This surge represents a notable rise from the ₹3.41 crore collected during the same period last year, indicating a strong taxpayer response to the available incentives.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that the civic body collected ₹5,30,99,643 between September 25 and 30. In comparison, collections during the corresponding period in the previous year amounted to ₹3,40,69,409, marking an incremental increase of ₹1,90,30,234.
This substantial uptick in revenue is largely attributed to taxpayers rushing to avail themselves of a 10 per cent rebate on property tax payments, which was offered until September 30. To facilitate this surge and accommodate the heightened taxpayer activity, the municipal corporation extended its operational hours, keeping its offices open over the weekend preceding the rebate deadline.
The peak collection day within this six-day window was September 29, when the MC office registered an impressive ₹1,34,56,006. This was closely followed by September 25, which saw collections of ₹1,32,34,618, and September 30, with ₹97,30,897 collected. The collections on September 26 amounted to ₹74,90,436, while September 27 and 28 recorded ₹22,43,761 and ₹69,43,925 respectively.
Mayor Kundan Gogia and MC Commissioner Pooja Syal Grewal acknowledged the positive engagement from property owners and lauded the dedication of the civic body employees. Their sustained efforts during the final days of the rebate period were instrumental in maximizing tax collection.
Both officials highlighted that the additional revenue generated would be channeled towards enhancing essential civic services and undertaking various development projects. These initiatives are expected to cover critical areas such as sanitation, street lighting, road infrastructure, and other vital municipal amenities aimed at improving the quality of urban life for residents.
The Chenab Times News Desk