Over ₹600 crore property tax unpaid! Vidhan Soudha, Raj Bhavan among Bengaluru’s biggest defaulters!

Bengaluru: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has issued property tax notices to over 250 government buildings, including Vidhana Soudha, Vikasa Soudha, and Raj Bhavan, in an effort to recover outstanding dues. According to sources, these government offices collectively owe around ₹660 crore in property tax arrears, accumulated over the past 17 years.

Despite repeated notices, the tax remains unpaid, putting a strain on BBMP’s finances. Property tax notices have been consistently sent to government offices, just as they are to private properties, but little action has been taken to clear the dues.

The civic body had introduced a One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme, which waived compound interest on arrears and reduced penalties by 50% to encourage payments. However, none took advantage of the scheme before it ended.

BBMP officials continue to send reminders, emphasising the urgency of clearing the dues. A list of top defaulters among government properties is being compiled for each of the eight BBMP zones to track non-payment.

While the civic body has been aggressively recovering dues from private property owners through the 'distress sale' of their immovable properties, similar action against government buildings has yet to be taken.