MMRDA Seeks Property Tax Waiver for Metro Construction Sites in Mumbai

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has requested the State Urban Development (UD) Department to instruct the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to waive property tax on temporary casting yards and Ready Mix Concrete (RMC) plants set up by Metro contractors. This request follows a letter from the BMC to MMRDA in December 2024, seeking recovery of pending dues amounting to Rs 550 crore.

J Kumar Infraprojects Ltd was allotted seven plots across key BMC wards—H/East (Santacruz), H/West (Bandra), K/East (Andheri), P/North (Malad), and M/West (Chembur)—by the MMRDA for setting up casting yards and RMC plants to facilitate ongoing Metro construction. According to civic sources, the company has declined to pay the property tax, citing a clause in its contract that places the responsibility on the MMRDA.

On December 9, 2024, the BMC’s Joint Municipal Commissioner (Assessment and Collection Department) formally wrote to the MMRDA, urging resolution of the matter and recovery of pending dues. Following the BMC’s letter, the MMRDA approached the Additional Chief Secretary of the UD Department in February 2025, requesting that the civic body be directed to waive the pending property tax.

In a letter to the BMC, Dr. Kiran Mahajan, Deputy Commissioner of MMRDA, stated that 'No coercive recovery action should be taken until the state government decides on the authority’s proposal.' A copy of this letter is with The Free Press Journal.

The BMC has identified several major property tax defaulters, including prominent real estate developers and government agencies. Outstanding dues accumulated since 2010 have now ballooned to Rs 22,000 crore, including penalties over the past 15 years. As part of its recovery drive, the civic body has begun issuing notices to large defaulters. An auction of 25 properties belonging to those who have failed to clear their dues is scheduled to be held soon.