Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping in 14 important cities of Uttar Pradesh is expected to almost double the number of establishments liable to pay property taxes, soaring from 27.16 lakh to 45.88 lakh. This initiative will likely generate an additional annual revenue of Rs 500 crore for the urban development department. Mathura, Agra, Firozabad, and Ghaziabad are set to benefit the most, with property counts rising significantly. The GIS mapping accurately identifies properties that were previously missed due to rapid urbanization. With streamlined tax assessment, this project is set to enhance property tax revenue in the state.
.png)
In a significant development, the recent implementation of Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping in 14 crucial cities of Uttar Pradesh has led to a substantial increase in the number of establishments subject to property taxes. The mapping has resulted in almost doubling the count of liable properties from 27.16 lakh to 45.88 lakh, potentially generating an additional annual revenue of Rs 500 crore for the urban development department.
Among the beneficiaries of this mapping initiative, the municipal corporations of Mathura, Agra, Firozabad, and Ghaziabad are expected to witness the most significant surge in revenue generation. Notably, the Mathura-Vrindavan region has experienced a remarkable 3.4-fold increase, with the number of properties within the local municipal corporation rising from 87,285 to 2.97 lakh.
A similar trend is observed in Agra, where the number of property owners liable to pay house tax during the 2022-23 fiscal year has jumped from 1.91 lakh to 4.54 lakh. The GIS mapping has successfully identified properties that were not captured through conventional physical surveys, owing to rapid urbanization over the past 10 to 15 years.
The GIS mapping project was initiated in 2019 under the supervision of the Regional Centre for Urban and Environmental Studies (RCUES). Private agencies equipped with cutting-edge technology were appointed to conduct the geospatial studies. The meticulous process of compiling, collating, and verifying the data, juxtaposed with the old maps available to the 14 municipal corporations governing cities like Lucknow, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Ghaziabad, Ayodhya, and others, took an additional three years.
Amrit Abhijat, the principal secretary of the department, revealed that the survey's findings have led to the provision of unique property identity numbers for all assessed properties. The move is aimed at streamlining tax assessment and payment procedures. In Lucknow, for instance, households covered under the recent survey have been marked with black plates, with their complete tax payment history made available in the system through the property ID number.
Nishith Rai, the Director of RCUES, highlighted that the GIS survey not only incorporated new properties into the system but also facilitated the assessment of increased built-up areas in existing properties. Consequently, property owners using additional space or area will be required to pay the appropriate house, water, and sewerage taxes and charges.
Overall, this comprehensive GIS mapping endeavour is set to significantly boost property tax revenue for the civic bodies, providing much-needed funds for urban development and infrastructure improvement across Uttar Pradesh's key cities.
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
