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Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Ahead of civic polls, NMC offers 100% penalty waiver on property tax for slum dwellers
Nagpur: With civic elections approaching, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has announced a 100% waiver on penalties and interest on pending property tax for slum dwellers under Property Tax Amnesty Scheme-2025. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The scheme will be active from August 1 to December 31, 2025, and is expected to benefit lakhs of residents. Applicable to dwellers in notified slums located on lands owned by NMC, Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT), semi-govt, and private agencies (excluding forest land), the scheme is linked to the 'Housing for All – 2022' initiative. Eligible residents must pay the full principal amount of property tax to avail of the waiver on the monthly 2% penalty, seizure notices, and recovery charges. The move, ordered by municipal commissioner and administrator Abhijeet Chaudhari, is being seen as a significant outreach to regularise slums and ease financial pressure on the urban poor. Deputy municipal commissioner (revenue) Milind Meshram clarified that no refunds or claims will be entertained for payments made before or after the scheme period. An updated property tax receipt is mandatory for securing lease rights under the housing scheme. NMC has appealed to maximum beneficiaries to take advantage of the offer.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
NMC cracks down on three firms for violating LED hoarding norms
1 2 Nagpur: In a belated but firm response, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) issued notices to three outdoor advertising firms for violating the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations (Regulation and Control of the Display of Sky-signs and Advertisement) Rules, 2022. The civic body gave the agencies just three days to rectify the breaches or face revocation of permissions and further punitive action. According to a notice issued by deputy municipal commissioner (revenue) Milind Meshram, the advertising firms — including M/s Signpost and M/s Varsha Advertising — installed LED hoardings that blatantly flouted the 2022 rules, particularly regarding video content, display intensity, and screen formats. The increasing use of high-intensity LED advertising screens in urban traffic zones has become a growing hazard for motorists. These digital hoardings, which display fast-moving visuals and frequent content changes, draw the attention of motorists and disrupt their focus while navigating busy intersections. Unlike static boards, dynamic LED displays create a sudden shift in a driver's visual field, often pulling their eyes away from the road at critical moments. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo Such distractions, even if momentary, can significantly increase the risk of collisions, especially in high-speed or congested areas. Equally concerning is the intense brightness of these displays, which often compete with or overpower the illumination of traffic signals. When placed near signal poles, the glare from LED hoardings can make it difficult for drivers to accurately perceive signal colours, particularly during night-time or low-visibility conditions. This creates confusion and delayed reactions, leading to traffic violations or near misses. Experts warn that unless such installations are regulated and restricted from sensitive traffic zones, they will continue to endanger road safety and put both motorists and pedestrians at risk. As per the civic body's findings, M/s Signpost erected three massive LED video walls — two on the premises of Saraswati High School at Shankar Nagar Square and one at RBI (Samvidhan) Square. These screens displayed dynamic video advertisements, which is a clear violation of Rule 5(i)(iv) and Rule 5(a). The rules permit only static LED content, with a mandatory 10-second gap between content changes. NMC noted that the three hoardings at Saraswati High School were being used in a "clubbing" format to display one oversized advertisement, which contravenes Rule 5(s) that regulates the size, layout, and permissible display configuration. M/s Varsha Advertising also came under fire for its LED hoarding at Law College Square, which not only showed video clips but also emitted intense brightness. According to the NMC, the display created hazardous visual distraction for motorists and interfered with the visibility of traffic signals — violating Rules 5(a) and 9 of the 2022 regulations. While the action followed a complaint filed by Parivartan – The Citizens' Forum, which previously took hoarding-related issues to the high court, the civic body's recent notice marks the first official move acknowledging these violations. NMC warned that failure to comply within three days will lead to cancellation of permissions and further action as per the law. With this move, the civic body signalled its intent to rein in illegal and unsafe advertising practices across the city.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
NMC to levy licence fees on shop signboards over 20sqft
Nagpur: In a move that could impact thousands of commercial establishments across the city, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation's (NMC) Skysign department is set to levy licence fees on all shop boards measuring over 20 square feet — both illuminated and non-illuminated. Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Revenue) Milind Meshram confirmed that the department already initiated a survey to identify such boards under Hanuman Nagar zone and will gradually extend it to other zones. As per rules, NMC is empowered to charge Rs62.50 per sqm per month for illuminated boards, and Rs22 per sqm per month for non-illuminated ones, he said. Citing the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations (Regulation and Control of Sky Sign and Advertisement) Rules, 2022, Meshram said, "There is a clear provision that mandates urban local body permission for any form of digital or illuminated shop signage boards. Even non-illuminated boards above a certain size fall under regulation." In addition to civic clearance, no objection certificates (NOCs) from the traffic police, local police station, and MSEDCL (power utility) are also required before erecting such boards. While the regulation isn't new, earlier efforts by the civic body to implement this fee structure were met with stiff resistance. Several shopkeeper associations launched protests, terming the move as an additional financial burden. Political parties too sided with the traders, pressuring the civic administration to withdraw the proposal. However, with the dissolution of NMC general body and an administrator at the helm, officials say it is the right time to enforce long-pending regulations without political interference. "There's no elected body in place to stall the enforcement. We now have a window to implement it strictly and systematically," said a senior official in the revenue department. The rule aims to regulate visual clutter and ensure that signage is safe, uniform, and does not obstruct traffic visibility or urban aesthetics. "Most of these large boards are erected without any permission or safety checks. It's not just about revenue — it's also about public safety and orderly urban design," Meshram said. The civic body expects to generate significant revenue through this initiative, especially from prime commercial zones like Dharampeth, Sitabuldi, and Itwari, where oversized and illuminated shop boards are rampant. NMC plans to complete the survey across all ten zones in the coming months and begin issuing notices to violators. Traders will be given time to regularise their signage or face penalties under the MMC Act.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
NMC's rebate scheme boosts property tax collection by 28% in first 2.5 months
Nagpur: The rebate scheme launched by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on property tax has led to a 28% increase in revenue collection in the first two and a half months of the current financial year. The civic body offers a 15% rebate for online payments made before June 30 and a 10% rebate for offline payments. By June 11, FY 2025-26, NMC collected Rs45.33 crore from 1.16 lakh property owners, up from Rs35.47 crore collected from 85,581 taxpayers during the same period last year. Deputy commissioner (Revenue) Milind Meshram told TOI that the steady growth indicates that more citizens are availing themselves of the rebate offer, particularly by making payments online. "Among the 10 zones, Laxmi Nagar recorded the highest number of taxpayers at 18,375 and also topped the revenue chart with Rs7.3 crore, up from Rs6.38 crore collected from 14,827 properties last year," said Meshram. Hanuman Nagar zone followed with Rs6.64 crore from 20,391 properties, a considerable rise from Rs4.67 crore from 13,423 units in 2024. Dharampeth and Nehru Nagar zones also reported impressive growth. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What Was Hidden in His Truck Will Surprise You prestigetrophy Learn More Undo Collection from the Dharampeth zone rose to Rs4.8 crore from Rs3.65 crore, while the Nehru Nagar zone almost doubled its figures — from Rs4.03 crore last year to Rs6.23 crore now — with over 5,000 more taxpayers availing the rebate. Mangalwari zone added nearly Rs1 crore more to its coffers, rising from Rs4.78 crore in 2024 to Rs5.87 crore in 2025. Lakadganj, Ashi Nagar, and Satranjipura zones also reported healthy increases, reflecting growing awareness about the rebate deadline. However, a few zones saw marginal or mixed trends. Dhantoli zone, despite a small rise in the number of properties, reported a slight dip in overall collection, from Rs2.86 crore to Rs2.80 crore. The Gandhibagh zone too showed subdued growth. With the June 30 deadline approaching, officials expect a further surge in collections, especially online. The civic body is optimistic that this early momentum will help it meet the annual property tax target, easing fiscal pressure and enabling better public services. After June 30, under the scheme, those who pay their full property tax for the financial year 2025-26 online by December 31 will receive a 10% rebate, while those paying offline will get a 5% rebate.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
NMC removes illegal billboards across city
Nagpur: Despite the potential to generate crores in revenue from hoardings and advertisements, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) continues to falter in effectively regulating and monetising this segment. In a glaring instance of administrative apathy, the skysign department recently found that 281 out of 385 hoardings across the city were still active and have collectively defaulted on mandatory civic body fees amounting to a staggering Rs3.94 crore. In response, the department has started initiating action against such defaulters. Of the 281 live hoardings, 104 now face removal proceedings for non-payment of cumulative dues of Rs19.15 lakh. The civic body has also begun a wider crackdown on unauthorised displays and advertisements. Officials discovered several illegal shop boards mounted on commercial buildings without permission and a special campaign has been launched to remove such boards. "In one such case, the skysign department pulled down an unauthorised advertisement of M/s Pepsi Cold Drinks that was illegally erected on the wall of Blue Diamond Hotel near Dosar Bhavan Square on Central Avenue. The 20x10 feet hoarding was installed without the approval of the competent authority," said deputy municipal commissioner (revenue) Milind Meshram. A large hoarding placed illegally in front of Empress Mall was also removed as part of the ongoing drive. The special drive is being carried out by a special team led by a senior officer, Jitendra Tomar. While municipal commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari has set an ambitious revenue target of Rs9 crore from advertisements for 2025-26 fiscal, sources said achieving this figure may remain a pipedream unless illegal hoardings and shop signs are reined in. Many of these hoardings are not just illegal but are allegedly allowed to remain in place by zonal offices that turn a blind eye to ignore violations for reasons best known to them. Civic activists argue that this unchecked parallel economy not only robs the NMC of rightful income but also clutters the urban skyline and compromises public safety. "NMC's own officials are responsible for this mess. The hoarding sector has the capacity to generate major revenue, but due to deliberate negligence and internal complicity, the civic body is losing crores every year," said an official who did not wish to be named.
