Ahmedabad Property Tax Department Told to Resolve Citizen Applications Within 7 Days

Amdavad Municipal Corporation’s Standing Committee has directed the property tax department to respond to every citizen application within seven days after complaints of delays stretching up to two months.

The issue was raised over the handling of routine property tax applications, with citizens reportedly having to make repeated visits to AMC offices to get their complaints and requests resolved.

The directive comes as the property tax department remains one of the corporation’s major revenue-generating departments.

Citizens Forced to Make Repeated Office Visits

Complaints before the Standing Committee highlighted delays in dealing with a range of property tax-related applications.

Citizens reportedly face difficulties when seeking changes or corrections in property records and tax bills. In several cases, applicants allegedly receive no response for weeks and are forced to visit the concerned office repeatedly to find out the status of their application.

Standing Committee Chairman Kamlesh Patel said applications related to name transfers, changes in tax calculations, outstanding amounts shown despite payment, differences in property size and changes in tax factors were among the matters for which citizens were facing delays.

The complaints raised concerns over both the time taken to process applications and the lack of timely communication with applicants.

Seven-Day Deadline Set for Response

Following the complaints, instructions have been issued to the property tax department to streamline the process.

Officials have been told to ensure that applicants receive an appropriate response within a maximum of seven days of submitting their applications.

The department has also been directed to make efforts to dispose of applications within the prescribed time limit instead of leaving citizens waiting for extended periods.

The move is aimed at reducing repeated visits to AMC offices and making the process more convenient for property owners dealing with tax-related issues.

What Kind of Property Tax Applications Are Involved?

Several routine issues can require citizens to approach the property tax department.

These include transferring a property into a new owner's name, correcting or questioning an increase in the tax calculation, and resolving cases where an amount continues to appear as outstanding even after the property tax has been paid.

Applications may also be submitted when there is a discrepancy in the recorded size of a property or when the applicable tax factor needs to be changed.

While some of these matters may require verification by AMC officials, the Standing Committee has now sought a system under which citizens are not left without a response for weeks.

Contractors Could Face Fines Over Dirty Sites

The Standing Committee also raised concerns about cleanliness at sites where AMC agencies and contractors are carrying out projects across Ahmedabad.

The corporation already takes action against illegal dumping of construction and demolition (C&D) waste and against conditions that can create public health problems.

Under the latest instructions, similar scrutiny will be extended to sites operated by agencies and contractors working on AMC projects.

If inspections find dirt, improperly dumped C&D waste or mosquito larvae at such sites, the concerned agency or contractor could face punitive action, including a fine.

The move is intended to ensure that construction and project sites maintained by contractors do not become sources of waste accumulation or mosquito breeding.

BRTS Boom Barriers to Be Inspected

Passenger safety at BRTS bus stands was another issue discussed in the Standing Committee.

A complaint was raised over boom barriers installed at BRTS bus stands, with reports that some barriers were not operating properly.

In particular, it was alleged that at some locations the barriers did not open on time when a bus approached, potentially creating an operational and safety concern.

The concerned department has now been instructed to inspect boom barriers at BRTS bus stands across the city.

Wherever defects are identified, necessary repairs and maintenance have been ordered.

Focus on Civic Services and Accountability

The directions cover three separate areas of civic administration — faster handling of property tax applications, stricter monitoring of contractor sites and maintenance of BRTS safety infrastructure.

For property owners, the immediate change is the instruction for a response within seven days, addressing one of the main complaints about the tax department.

The AMC’s implementation of these directions will determine whether citizens see a reduction in pending applications and repeated visits to civic offices.