Chennai Corporation struggles with delays in building reassessment
ECONOMY & POLICY

Chennai Corporation struggles with delays in building reassessment

Six years have passed since the launch of the Greater Chennai Corporation's geographic information system-based building reassessment initiative, but nearly 80% of the buildings with deviations are yet to be reassessed.

Darashaw and Company, appointed by GCC, identified 3,10,139 buildings with deviations for reassessment and re-measurement. However, only 60,000 buildings have been remeasured, and among these, only 30,000 have been reassessed and included in the property tax calculations.

This delay has resulted in a significant revenue loss for the corporation, estimated at Rs 2.5 to 3 billion, constituting about 20% of its annual property tax revenue. Revenue officials attribute the delay to the diversion of the workforce to other tasks such as Covid-19 response, elections, monsoon preparations, and welfare schemes like the ?Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai? drive.

According to an unnamed revenue official, the assessment process involves thorough inspections, measurements, correlation with GIS mapping, and finalisation of deviations, with potential legal challenges from property owners further complicating the process. K Dhanasekaran, the standing committee chairman of the accounts department, highlighted that universities, marriage halls, and commercial buildings were the major violators. He emphasised the need for a dedicated survey team independent of the regular GCC workforce to expedite the reassessment process.

Dhanasekaran urged the corporation to establish a specialised team for building surveys and emphasised the importance of the commissioner reviewing the under-assessed buildings zone-wise to accelerate the reassessment drive. Deputy Commissioner (Revenue and Finance) R Lalitha assured that the drive would resume soon, with a commitment to reviewing and expediting the pending works.

Six years have passed since the launch of the Greater Chennai Corporation's geographic information system-based building reassessment initiative, but nearly 80% of the buildings with deviations are yet to be reassessed. Darashaw and Company, appointed by GCC, identified 3,10,139 buildings with deviations for reassessment and re-measurement. However, only 60,000 buildings have been remeasured, and among these, only 30,000 have been reassessed and included in the property tax calculations. This delay has resulted in a significant revenue loss for the corporation, estimated at Rs 2.5 to 3 billion, constituting about 20% of its annual property tax revenue. Revenue officials attribute the delay to the diversion of the workforce to other tasks such as Covid-19 response, elections, monsoon preparations, and welfare schemes like the ?Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai? drive. According to an unnamed revenue official, the assessment process involves thorough inspections, measurements, correlation with GIS mapping, and finalisation of deviations, with potential legal challenges from property owners further complicating the process. K Dhanasekaran, the standing committee chairman of the accounts department, highlighted that universities, marriage halls, and commercial buildings were the major violators. He emphasised the need for a dedicated survey team independent of the regular GCC workforce to expedite the reassessment process. Dhanasekaran urged the corporation to establish a specialised team for building surveys and emphasised the importance of the commissioner reviewing the under-assessed buildings zone-wise to accelerate the reassessment drive. Deputy Commissioner (Revenue and Finance) R Lalitha assured that the drive would resume soon, with a commitment to reviewing and expediting the pending works.

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

JNPA Becomes First Indian Port to Cross 10 Million TEU Capacity

The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), located at Uran in Navi Mumbai, has become the first port in India to achieve over 10 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in container handling capacity.With the recent expansion, the port now operates five container terminals with a combined capacity of 10.4 million TEUs, alongside two liquid and two general cargo terminals.Handling more than half of India’s container traffic, JNPA processed 7.05 million TEUs in 2024 and has moved 15.39 million tonnes of containers and 16.64 million tonnes of total cargo in the first two months of FY 2025â..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Nod for Rs. 36.26 billion Expansion of Pune Metro Line 2

The Union Cabinet has approved the Rs.36.26 billion expansion of Pune Metro Line 2, adding 12.75 km of track and 13 new stations to improve east–west connectivity across the city.The project aims to link Pune’s urban core with rapidly growing suburbs, supporting the city’s rising demand for efficient and sustainable transport solutions. This expansion is part of Corridor 2 of the Pune Metro and includes two key routes: Vanaz to Chandani Chowk (Corridor 2A) and Ramwadi to Wagholi/Vitthalwadi (Corridor 2B).It will connect residential, IT, and educational hubs in areas such as Bavdhan, Koth..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Assembly begins for ‘Nayak’ TBM on Thane– Borivali Twin Tunnel Project

The assembly of ‘Nayak’, the first of four Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) for the Thane–Borivali Twin Tube Tunnel Project, has commenced at the Thane site. Built by German firm Herrenknecht AG and deployed by Megha Engineering & Infrastructure (MEIL), the TBM marks a key milestone in Mumbai’s ambitious 11.8-km underground road corridor beneath Sanjay Gandhi National Park.The twin tunnels will reduce the Thane–Borivali travel distance by 12 km and decongest Thane Ghodbunder Road. ‘Nayak’, with a 13.2-metre diameter, is designed to bore through challenging geological conditions ..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?