‘Fire tax’ among key proposals in Rajkot Municipal Corporation’s Rs 3,112-crore annual budget

The budget, titled ‘Liveable Rajkot’, also proposes to create an “inclusive, sustainable, and thriving urban environment” besides an increase in taxes pertaining to property and door-to-door garbage collection.

The proposed fire tax aims to overhaul and strengthen the city’s fire safety infrastructure and will be calculated at Rs 15 per square metre for residential and Rs 25 per square metre for non-residential properties.

Property tax has been proposed to be raised from Rs 11 per square metre to Rs 15 per square metre for residences, while for non-residential properties it has been proposed to be revised from Rs 25 per square metre to Rs 30 per square metre. This revision will help the civic body earn an additional Rs 40 crore.

The yearly rate for door-to-door garbage collection has been increased by nearly four times to Rs 1,460 for residential properties and Rs 2,920 for non-residential properties.

Elaborating on the ‘Liveable Rajkot’ theme, Sumera said, “Rajkot city will be made comfortable and accessible to all sections of society, from children to senior citizens and disabled people. The aim is to build a city which is inclusive, safe and loving.”

He added that the changes are based on the criteria set by organisations like the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, Asian Development Bank, Economist Intelligence Unit, etc. “Infrastructure facilities for education and health as well as social, economic, physical and institutional amenities will be strengthened according to the liveability index,” Sumera said.

This budget strategically prioritises key sectors, ensuring a balanced approach to infrastructure, environment, public well-being and “economic resilience”, he said.