Ghaziabad House Tax: GMC Board Rejects Proposal
In a pivotal meeting held on Wednesday, the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC) board voted against a proposal to adjust the Ghaziabad house tax rates in line with the District Magistrate (DM) circle rate. This decision was made amid rising tensions between Mayor Sunita Dayal and Municipal Commissioner Vikramaditya Singh Malik. The meeting was attended by State Cabinet Minister and Sahibabad MLA Sunil Kumar Sharma, along with Muradnagar MLA Ajitpal Tyagi.
Mayor Dayal emphasized that despite opposition from councillors regarding a tax hike, the GMC had previously sent notices demanding adjustments to the Ghaziabad house tax based on the DM circle rate. She stated, “The consumers can breathe easy,” following the board’s decision to reject the proposal. The GMC had implemented a 10% increase in the Ghaziabad house tax in January 2023, which had already put financial strain on residents.
Officials within the GMC argued that aligning the Ghaziabad house tax with the DM circle rate would have generated additional revenue for the corporation, especially since Ghaziabad’s current house tax rates are the lowest among 17 municipalities in the state. To date, over ₹185 crore has been collected this financial year, including revenues from the recent tax increase. Residents who have already paid the increased house tax will see adjustments in the following year.
The contentious nature of the tax hike had escalated to the Chief Minister’s office, illustrating the friction between the GMC officials and the mayor.
In addition to the tax discussion, the GMC board approved the inclusion of 13 new commercial activities under the trade licence fee structure. A committee will be established to evaluate the associated fees, with a final decision anticipated in the upcoming board meeting. The state government has mandated municipalities to implement trade licence fees for various commercial activities. The approved list encompasses 39 activities, including hotels, private clinics, and pathology centres.
Notably, certain businesses such as gymnasiums, beauty parlours, spa centres, coaching institutes, jewellery showrooms, and branded apparel and sportswear outlets were excluded from this list. Proposed fees include ₹2,000 for non-air-conditioned gyms, ₹5,000 for air-conditioned gyms, ₹3,000 for spa centres, and ₹2,000 for coaching institutes. Jewellery showrooms and branded apparel outlets will face fees of ₹5,000 and ₹4,000, respectively. Furthermore, sports academies will be charged up to ₹10,000 annually for single sports offerings and up to ₹20,000 for multiple sports.
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