Mumbai Metro One has been sent with a notice from the BMC for failing to pay property taxes of Rs 300 crore

The BMC has filed an eviction notice to Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL), the operator of the Versova-Andheri Ghatkopar Line, for failing to pay property taxes totaling Rs 300 crore, plus penalties. Mumbai Metro One has not paid property tax since 2013, according to civic sources, and summons for Rs 80 crore and Rs 220 crore have been issued by the Andheri east and west wards, respectively.

 

In both wards, there are 24 MMOPL properties, 16 of which are in Andheri west. K west ward is responsible for car sheds, workshops, stabling yards, sheds, heavy cleaning tracks, and three Metro stations: Versova, D N Nagar, and Azad Nagar. In addition, the MMOPL owns two large land lots in Andheri west for which no property tax has been paid. Andheri east ward  includes metro stations such as LIC Andheri, Western Express Highway, JB Nagar, Airport Road, Marol Station, and Marol Substation.

 

"If MMOPL does not pay property taxes within 21 days, we will cut their water and sewage pipes," said K-west ward Assistant Municipal Commissioner Vishwas Mote, who launched the notification procedure. If MMOPL continues to fail to pay property taxes, we will begin attaching their properties, which will eventually be auctioned to recoup the funds." "Section 520C of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888 authorizes the Govt of Maharashtra to issue instructions to the MCGM regarding policy to be adopted by MCGM in the broader public interest," MMOPL stated in a statement when asked for comment.

 

According to the statement, the state government had directed the corporation to provide exemptions to Mumbai Metro Line-1 from payment of local taxes/property tax, based on a Bombay High Court order dated April 17, 2018, because the metro line is a public transportation project and the Metro Act, which went into effect on October 16, 2009, applies to it. The MCGM local ward offices have yet to comply with the Maharashtra government's orders, according to IT. "The properties belong to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and MMOPL; either of them should pay the taxes," AMC Mote responded.

 

 

 

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