Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) has been served a property tax notice by the Panvel City Municipal Corporation (PCMC) for allowing an HDFC bank ATM at the bus depot in Kalamboli, sector 2. The notice requires NMMT to pay an outstanding amount of Rs1 lakh to PCMC. In response, NMMT has written to HDFC bank requesting them to recover the amount.
Furthermore, PCMC has also put NMMT’s Asudgaon depot under scrutiny for property tax assessment. The presence of the HDFC bank ATM in the 100 square feet area of Kalamboli depot has raised concerns about commercial exploitation of the depot. This issue has exacerbated the tensions between the two municipal corporations.
NMMT operates bus depots in the PCMC area, with several buses operating on designated routes within PCMC. While providing concessions to residents, school children, and senior citizens, the property tax dues have become a bone of contention between NMMT and PCMC.
This particular depot was previously under the jurisdiction of Kalamboli gram panchayat, and the Asudgaon depot was under Asudgaon gram panchayat before PCMC’s establishment. Amol Shitole, an activist from Kamothe, alleges that PCMC and Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) are involved in a cold war regarding property tax collection from Asudgaon and Kalamboli. Shitole claims that the amount due is unreasonably high, considering the property tax has been pending for five years.
NMMT’s depot manager at Asudgaon, Umakant Jangle, has stated that exemption was sought from PCMC for their Asudgaon depot. According to Jangle, government agencies are exempted from paying property tax. Sachin Kamble, NMMT’s assistant traffic superintendent, has confirmed that the details of PCMC’s property tax bill have been shared with the authorities at HDFC bank.
Neither the NMMT general manager, Yogesh Kaduskar, nor PCMC’s deputy municipal commissioner, Ganesh Shete, were available for comment on the matter.
The ongoing dispute between PCMC and NMMT highlights the complexities of taxation and administration between adjoining municipal corporations. As PCMC demands payment for property tax, NMMT is seeking support from HDFC bank to resolve the issue. The property tax dues at both depots have become a major concern, prompting further examination and communication regarding the matter.
Ultimately, the resolution of this dispute will require careful negotiation and cooperation between PCMC and NMMT. The issue at hand raises questions about the fair and equitable distribution of tax burdens and the appropriate usage of public spaces for commercial purposes. The outcome of this dispute will have implications for future interactions between neighboring municipal corporations, emphasizing the need for transparency and effective communication in such matters.
