PUNE: Residents within Pune’s civic limits will not face an increased property tax, and those in Pimpri Chinchwad are also expected to be exempt from any hikes.
The Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) general body (GB) unanimously rejected a proposal on Wednesday to raise property tax by 5% for the upcoming fiscal year. Similarly, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is unlikely to propose a tax increase for the 2026-27 financial year due to the absence of a standing committee, which is required to review such proposals.
Last week, the PMC brought forth the 5% tax increase proposal, but corporators from various parties urged the administration to enhance tax recovery efforts and increase the number of properties subject to taxation, ultimately opting to reject the proposed hike.
Ganesh Bidkar, Leader of the House, stated that the decision to dismiss the proposal was made to protect responsible taxpayers, and highlighted the need for alternative measures to boost property tax revenue.
The opposition parties, including NCP, Congress, and Shiv Sena (UBT), endorsed the rejection of the tax hike. The BJP had previously decided on this course during a meeting of corporators.
Nilesh Nikam, Leader of the Opposition, noted that many properties remain untaxed and recovery practices need improvement. He argued for the hiring of additional staff to enhance the property tax department’s efficiency.
Several corporators expressed concerns about residents struggling to resolve tax assessment issues, urging the administration to address all outstanding matters related to property tax. Senior corporators Varsha Tapkir and Sachin Dodke mentioned that non-cooperative tax department employees contributed to significant delays.
Arvind Shinde of Congress claimed the tax hike proposal was withdrawn following intervention from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
In Pimpri Chinchwad, the last property tax revision occurred in 2013-14. A senior PCMC official explained that the rules stipulate any proposal for tax revision must be submitted to the standing committee before February 20. “Given the current circumstances, it seems unlikely that the standing committee will be established before the deadline,” he stated.
Due to delays in forming the standing committee, PCMC’s annual budget may have to be directly submitted to the GB for approval. The municipal commissioner has presented and approved the budget in the past four years as the acting administrator in the absence of an elected body.
