Traders can register at 16 centres across the city. One centre each has
been set up at the 15 ward offices while registration can also be done
at the octroi department office near the civic body’s headquarters in
Shivajinagar. The registration details have been uploaded on the
official website: www.punecorporation.org

So far, the civic body has issued LBT certificates to 57,840 traders and 3,060 more have completed the registration process.

The new registration process started on March 14 and continued till
March 31. Over 61,000 traders had collected their local body tax
certificates by March 31.

Civic officials said it is mandatory
for traders to register for the LBT and collect the certificate. Those
without the certificate cannot trade in the city. There are provisions
to impose a fine and punish traders who fail to follow the rules.

Octroi always been a major source of revenue for the civic body and has
accounted for 40% of the civic body’s revenue. It had collected Rs
1,314 crore as octroi till March 31, 2013, exceeding last year’s figure
by Rs 84 crore.

The state government has recently replaced
octroi with the LBT in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad among other municipal
corporations in the state. Now, all traders who bring goods worth more
than Rs 5,000 from outside the city are required to register with the
civic body. For the new tax system, the administration has given traders
the option of registering online or physically filling up the forms.