Prayagraj Municipal Corporation Ramps Up House Tax Recovery with Innovative GPS Monitoring
The Prayagraj Municipal Corporation (PMC) has launched a rigorous campaign to accelerate house tax collection in the current financial year, introducing a new strategy focused on improving transparency and accountability in the recovery process. This initiative aims to streamline operations and ensure efficient monitoring of field activities.
Daily Targets and GPS Tracking Mandate
As part of this drive, the civic body has set an ambitious daily collection target of Rs 1 crore for each zone. To enforce this, PMC has made it mandatory for all staff engaged in tax recovery to share their live location while on duty. This system allows senior officials to track employee movements and verify their active presence in localities for collecting house tax from property owners.
According to the civic administration, this measure is designed to enhance oversight and make the recovery process more result-oriented. The PMC had previously fixed a house tax collection target of Rs 150 crore for the ongoing financial year. So far, over Rs 100 crore has been collected, and efforts are being intensified to recover the remaining amount before the financial year concludes.
Special Teams and Staff Deployment
To bolster the campaign, the corporation has constituted special teams across all zones. Each zone is assigned a 17-member team responsible for door-to-door outreach. Chief tax assessment officer Sanjay Mamgai detailed that the campaign involves eight tax superintendents, 17 inspectors, and 89 outsourced employees, ensuring comprehensive coverage and efficient tax collection.
The new GPS tracking system was implemented starting March 7. Employees are required to send their location via mobile phones to a designated group, enabling real-time monitoring of field activities. Mamgai emphasized that this step is not intended to pressure employees but to foster a more transparent, efficient, and accountable collection process.
Expected Outcomes and Future Plans
The PMC anticipates that these measures will significantly improve tax recovery rates and reduce discrepancies. By leveraging technology for live location sharing, the corporation aims to minimize delays and ensure that staff are actively engaging with property owners. This approach is part of a broader effort to modernize civic operations and enhance public trust in municipal services.
Officials remain optimistic about meeting the Rs 150 crore target, citing the structured teams and technological integration as key factors. The initiative reflects PMC's commitment to fiscal responsibility and effective governance in Prayagraj.
