Homeowners may find themselves obligated to pay an additional Rs 5,000 in taxes annually starting from the upcoming financial year. This is because the civic corporation is contemplating aligning property tax with the DM circle rate. It is noteworthy that the circle rates in the city are determined based on road widths in the locality. If these rates are revised, the new taxation rate is expected to vary between Rs 3.5 per sq ft to Rs 4 per sq ft. This is an increase from the current Rs 1.61 per sq ft to Rs 2.45 per sq ft. A segment of councillors has expressed opposition to the revision of house tax. They argue that the rates were recently raised by 10%, and a second round of increase would be unjust to homebuyers. Mayor Sunita Dayal mentioned that the matter will be taken up with the state government. According to an official from the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC), the primary criteria for determining the new tax slab include the DM circle rate, width of roads, and location of a property. If the road width is less than 12m, the proposed house tax rate will be Rs 3.50 per sq ft, up from the existing Rs 1.61/sq ft. Similarly, in localities with road widths between 12 metres and 24 metres, the new house tax rate would be Rs 3.75/sq ft against Rs 2/sq ft. For areas where roads are wider than 24 metres, the slab will be Rs 4/sq ft, up from the current Rs 2.45/sq ft. The official added that for properties located near highways or arterial roads, the tax rate hike will be steeper. For instance, residents of Crossings Republik, situated near the Delhi-Meerut Expressway and NH9, will have to pay more taxes than those in Siddharth Vihar. The average annual increase in house tax will be around Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000, the official noted. In January of the previous year, the GMC Board approved a proposal to increase house tax by 10% on 4.28 lakh properties. The 10% house tax rate is already applicable and under consideration. So, why are the house tax rates now being increased to be on par with the circle rate It will only add to the financial burden on residents. We will oppose this hike and have already submitted a memorandum to the mayor, they added.