KMC’s Garden Reach unit sees 31.5% rise in tax collection

Kolkata: The Garden Reach unit (GRU) of Kolkata Municipal Corporation witnessed 31.5 per cent rise in property tax collection till October in 2024-25 financial year (FY) compared to the corresponding period last year.

The steep increase in tax collection assumes significance in the backdrop of an under construction building collapse in Azhar Mollah Bagan in Garden Reach on March 17 that killed more than a dozen people. KMC sources said the GRU, till October 25, collected Rs 8.15 crore which is significantly higher than the collection of Rs 6.20 crore during the corresponding period last year. Wards 133 to 141 comes within GRU’s jurisdiction. A major contributor to the increase in collection was a payment of Rs 3 crore by Garden Reach Shipbuilders in 2024-25 FY.

The South Suburban Unit (SSU) that involves Behala area, too saw a positive 9.3 per cent increase against the corresponding period in 2023-24 FY.

“We have recently collected Rs 82 lakh as first installment of dues by ESI Hospital in Joka which is a significant boost to our tax collection. A bill of Rs 17 crore has been raised for the hospital,” a KMC official said.

Property assessment at Joka unit comprising 142, 143 and 144 wards started in Q1 of 2013-14. It was mid-2023 when ESI Hospital was assessed. Hearing was conducted regarding the hospital’s property tax and accordingly a bill was raised. “We are still working on bringing unassessed property in Joka area within the tax net with our limited strength,” the official added. The North Unit too witnessed a positive growth of 7.15 percent compared to the corresponding period last year while the South unit and Tolly Tax unit saw negative growth of 3.54 and 9.41 percent, respectively.