In an effort to address the issue of unpaid municipal dues, the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) is introducing an innovative “doorstep tax collection” service. Through this new initiative, municipal employees equipped with handheld point of sale (POS) devices will visit both residential and commercial properties to assess and collect taxes on-site.
This initiative represents a transition towards a “service-at-your-door” approach, specifically aimed at residents who have not taken the initiative to visit MC offices to settle their annual or outstanding dues. The MC has acquired 48 POS devices, distributing 12 units to each of the city’s four zones. Unlike water supply dues, which are predetermined, property tax necessitates specific calculations based on the area and usage.
The new digital handheld devices enable officials to measure the property size and ascertain the precise tax obligation instantly. MC superintendent Vivek Verma remarked that Ludhiana will be the first city in Punjab to adopt this system. “The primary benefit is that the collection will be live on the MC dashboard,” Verma stated. “This enables us to oversee field staff in real-time, ensuring that there are no inaccuracies in assessment or manual errors.”
The initiative is being implemented as the municipal authority strives to achieve its annual financial objectives. This year, the Municipal Corporation has successfully recovered ₹142 crore against a target of ₹160 crore. Officials are of the opinion that the outstanding ₹18 crore — along with considerable arrears from prior years — is held by “violators” who evade official payment channels.
The newly introduced system provides taxpayers with three key conveniences. The first convenience is the issuance of immediate receipts. Receipts, whether in paper or digital form, will be provided on-site. The second convenience involves multiple payment options.
Residents have the ability to make payments through digital transfers, bank drafts, or cash. The third convenience is the implementation of audit on wheels. Staff members will utilize machines to verify whether taxes from previous years were calculated correctly in accordance with current regulations.
Mayor Inderjit Kaur is anticipated to officially launch the initiative after a brief training session for the field personnel. Although the water supply department already collects dues directly from residents, officials assert that this more intricate property tax implementation signifies a substantial technological advancement for the city’s revenue department.
