Mumbai: BMC attaches 24 Metro One properties worth over Rs 300 crore – Times of India

MUMBAI: BMC attached 24 properties of Mumbai Metro One, including Azad Nagar, Versova and D N Nagar stations, for non-payment of property tax since it began operations.
Officials said Rs 220 crore was from properties in K (west) ward, while Rs 80 crore from K (east) ward. Most of the Metro line falls within these two wards. If not paid by the end of the financial year, the civic body is likely to move against them, first by disconnecting water supply, and auctioning them if required. A tussle between Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL) as to who should pay up was leading to non-payment, said officials.
MMOPL runs the 11.5-km Metro line between Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar. Its Mumbai’s first Metro line, built on a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
R-Infra owned by industrialist Anil Ambani has a major share (74%) in MMOPL, while MMRDA owns 26%. Vishwas Mote, assistant municipal commissioner (assessment & collection department) said the notices have been stuck outside stations and other properties, like yard, car shed, store building, workshop and electric substation.
“MMOPL claimed it is not their liability and are pushing it on MMRDA. After studying the matter, we concluded MMOPL must paying the amount,” said Mote. If the property tax is not paid by the end of the financial year, BMC will disconnect water supply, and in extreme cases, properties attached can be auctioned.
A Mumbai Metro One official said, “Based on Bombay high court orders, the government of Maharashtra on April 17, 2018, directed BMC to provide exemptions to Mumbai Metro One from payment of local taxes/property tax as it is a public transportation project with effect from the date of applicability of Metro Act (October 16, 2009). BMC local ward offices are yet to comply with the orders of Government of Maharashtra.”
An BMC official clarified that MMOPL was a ‘private limited’ so it was not exempted from municipal taxes. In the past, fare structure has been a source of friction between MMRDA and MMOPL. Property tax is a primary source of revenue for BMC and during budget (2021-22), it fixed a target of Rs 5,400 crore till March 10, of which Rs 4,571 crore was collected.