Pune: Restaurants, Hospitals, and Schools in Pimpri Chinchwad Face Seizures as Tax Arrears Cross Rs 5 Crore

Reported By Varad Bhatkhande
Pimpri Chinchwad, 24th January 2025: Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) will have to take harsh measures to ensure everyone pays property tax, as famous restaurants, hospitals, schools, and educational institutes have significant arrears. PCMC’s Taxation and Tax Collection Department has sent pre-seizure notices to these properties, and property sealing and seizing actions are ongoing. All properties with tax arrears over Rs 1 lakh have been sent notices. All these establishments have total arrears exceeding Rs 5 crore.
In total, restaurants and hotels have arrears of Rs 1.79 crores in property tax. Reputable establishments are included in this list. The most substantial arrears are from two properties of Hotel Magnum Plus in the Pimpri Waghere area, combining for Rs 54.85 lakh in arrears. The Taxation and Tax Collection Department of PCMC has sent notices to 32 restaurants and hotels across the city for having arrears of at least Rs 1 lakh each.
Private hospitals also have arrears in crores, with a total of Rs 1.37 crore outstanding. These hospitals are often scrutinized for charging hefty fees from patients, making their failure to pay property tax particularly ironic. A total of 13 hospitals with arrears exceeding Rs 1 lakh have been sent notices. Star Hospital in Akurdi has the highest arrears, owing a whopping Rs 1.15 crores alone.
Private schools have arrears totaling Rs 1.87 crores. Twenty-one schools have property tax debts to PCMC amounting to more than Rs 1 lakh each. PCMC has started taking strict action, sealing nine schools with combined arrears of Rs 2.05 crores. While the seals were removed once these schools paid their taxes, some schools still remain non-compliant.
Assistant Municipal Commissioner Avinash Shinde, in charge of PCMC’s Taxation and Tax Collection Department, said, “The action to seal and seize non-residential properties with outstanding debts exceeding one lakh has been intensified. Properties that fail to respond despite receiving notices are being seized. If the dues are not cleared within the given deadline, such properties are being auctioned. Properties belonging to some schools, colleges, educational institutions, hospitals, and hotels in the city have been sealed. The seal is not removed until the entire outstanding amount is paid online. Additionally, the seal is only lifted after the cheque is successfully cashed. This action campaign has been intensified.”