Tax rates to go up for Cyberabad neighbours

Hyderabad: Residents of Nizampet, Shamshabad, Pragathinagar, Bachupalli and other areas bordering Cyberabad will soon have to pay higher taxes.

Presently, these are gram panchayats and the Ranga Reddy district administration has prepared a draft report for upgradation of these villages into nagar panchayats and municipalities.

The property tax rates in gram panchayats are far less compared to the tax rates in nagar panchayats, municipalities and municipal corporations.

For example, the tax rates in nagar panchayats will be 70 per cent more than those prevailing in gram panchayat limits. The tax rates in municipalities and municipal corporation limits are even higher.

It may be mentioned here that in September, the state government had issued orders for the merger of 35 gram panchayats with Greater Hyderabad.

However, the process was stalled after local residents of some of the villages had approached the courts against the merger orders.

Now, the Ranga Reddy district administration has clubbed one or more villages making them fit to be upgraded as nagar panchayats and municipalities.

The file has been sent to the Municipal Administration department and orders declaring the formation of 12 to 15 new nagar panchayats and municipalities will be issued shortly.