Citizens in Bengaluru peeved over unfair property tax

BENGALURU: Generally, norms say that property tax is fixed based on the total area in the city. However, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has been collecting property based on slab systems. If a site allottee got a few square metres more than the site that comes under the first slab, he/she has to pay the tax fixed for the second slab that is almost double the amount.

This slab system is affecting those who bought corner sites in public auctions. For example, the BDA fixed Rs 900 for a site measuring 9×12 sq mts (108 sq mts). The next slab is 12×18 sq mt and the property tax for this site is around Rs 1,800.

If a person bought a corner site or normal site at an auction and if that site is slightly bigger than the site that comes under the first slab, the site owner has to pay the property tax fixed for the sites under the second slab category.

“Instead of collecting the property tax for the total area on square metre or square feet basis, the BDA revenue authorities are collecting higher tax from the property owners. I bought a corner site at a public auction. The site size is slightly bigger than the site that comes under the first slab (6×9 sq mts). The BDA revenue authorities collected double the amount equal to the second slab from me,’’ said Varun, a site owner at Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout.

Expressing a similar opinion, Santosh, who owns a site at the layout, said that he too paid double in property tax. “Though the total amount is a few thousands of rupees, it is not fair for the BDA revenue authorities to collect the property tax under the slab system,’’ said Santosh.

There are sites in different sizes at the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout. The BDA collects property tax under the slabs measuring 6×9 sq mts, 9×12 sq mts, 12×18 sq mts, 15×24 sq mts and above.

Instead of collecting the property tax for the total area, the BDA revenue authorities are collecting higher tax from the property owners–Varun, a site owner at Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout

“If the BDA continues to collect property tax under the slab system, it will have an adverse impact on the site owners when they construct buildings,’’ said Surya Kiran, spokesperson of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout Open Forum.

Meanwhile, the BDA floated a tender for the construction of an underpass and cast in-situ box with retaining wall for service road on both sides and connecting approach road at an estimated cost of Rs 3,745.19 lakh. The BDA has fixed 18 months including monsoon for the completion of the work.