BANGALORE: BBMP plans to generate money from four additional sectors. But is it feasible? Implementation could meet with stiff opposition.

Commercial transport vehicles

K G Ravindra, vice-president, All India Motor Transport Congress, told TOI that BBMP should not impose tax on commercial vehicles. "Nowhere in India is toll collected within city limits, but BBMP wants to collect tax for plying within the city. This is unfair. There are signal-free corridors in Hyderabad and Delhi but no toll is collected," Ravindra said.

He said there are 4.5 lakh vehicles in the city, of which 1 lakh are maxi cabs, taxis and buses and the rest are private vehicles. "It's a question of livelihood of 1 lakh drivers and owners. We may have to take steps to oppose it if the budget gets approved," Ravindra added.

According to B Chenna Reddy, president, Federation of Karnataka Lorry Owners' Association, four-wheelers for commercial purposes already pay Rs 20,000-22,000 every year as road tax, apart from fuel cess and commercial tax. "Why should we pay an additional fee?" Chenna Reddy questioned.

According to him, commercial transport vehicles, especially lorries, are allowed to ply only on 5% of roads in the city which in itself is unfair. "Plying on major roads is not allowed for heavy-load vehicles. It's unfair. We'll protest against this move of additional fee collection," Chenna Reddy said.

High-value buildings

Buildings with an area of 15,000 sq metres and above are high-value properties by BBMP. "What more improvement charges can be levied on us?" ask apartment owners. "There is a lack of accountability and transparency in property tax collection. If they collect tax from offenders, that will fill BBMP's kitty. For various reasons, there is no proper revenue collection from many owners," Raja Nambiyar, president, Diamond District Apartment Owners Welfare Association ( DDAOWA). Nambiyar and others are keen that tax be collected because so far they are considered as tenants, and not owners of their apartments even though they paid crores for purchasing them. The title deeds are still not in the names of owners.

Electric transformers

There's a plan to collect fee for electric transformers on BBMP properties. "With this move, BBMP will actually encourage builders to shift transformers outside their premises. Where the transformers should have been installed, builders might use that space for commercial activities," said a source.

Dish antennae

It's the same issue with cellphone towers and dish antennae atop buildings. When the issue is still pending in the high court, BBMP has gone ahead to include revenue from telecommunication companies for additional revenue mobilization.