Compared to previous year, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) earned Rs.700 crore more during 2014-15, a significant growth of 27 per cent The total revenue of the civic body stood at Rs.3,317 crore as against Rs.2,616 crore of the year 2013-14 and Rs.2,451 crore of 2012-13. “Against this significant revenue growth, we also spent more on creating quality infrastructure with a capital expenditure of Rs.1,285 crore last year as against Rs.562 crore spent during 2012-13,” the GHMC Commissioner and Special Officer, Somesh Kumar said.
Speaking to presspersons here on Wednesday, Mr. Somesh Kumar said property tax collection in the financial year closing on Tuesday stood at Rs.1,111 crore while the figure was Rs.1,020 crore during previous year. “In 2013-14, the tax was paid for 8.50 lakh properties while this time it was for 9.55 lakh properties,” he said. The government support to the civic body also went up to Rs.676 crore from previous year’s Rs.215 crore.
Having registered an impressive revenue generation, the civic body would now put focus on quality development with a budget drafted at Rs.5,550 crore for the present year. “The target is high but we will meet it and various options such as floating bonds and loans are under consideration,” Mr.Somesh Kumar added.
Building permission
In what is being perceived as a sign of revival in construction activity in the city, the GHMC netted Rs.526.27 crore as building permission fee during the year 2014-15 as against previous year’s Rs.501.37 crore.
“In March itself, we received 1,141 building applications and got Rs.120 crore towards fee which is a record in itself,” GHMC Commissioner, Somesh Kumar said. The amount collected was despite permissions being put on hold for few weeks while strategic road development plan was drafted.
Some major projects which received building permission during 2014-14 include Novartis headquarters, a seven star hotel of ITC, IDBI Central Training Institute and staff quarters, National Institute of Animal Biodiversity campus and the Data Centre buildings of SBI and Bank of Baroda.
“These apart, several multi-storeyed residential apartments, multiplexes, big hospital campuses and hotels took permissions this year which shows that the city is growing rapidly and investors are keen in putting their money here,” he added.
AP owes Rs. 20 crore
The GHMC is awaiting receipt of property tax to the tune of Rs.20 crore from Andhra Pradesh government while the Telangana State government has released its share of Rs.20 crore.
Before the State was bifurcated, the civic body used to receive Rs.40 crore as tax for the government properties in the city. “We wrote to the AP government and they are working on it. I am hopeful, we will receive their share soon,” GHMC Commissioner Somesh Kumar said.
