Mumbai: After receiving a letter from the BMC to recover unpaid property taxes from metro contractors, the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) has now issued notices to two contractors involved in the Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line) for Colaba-Bandra-Seepz project. The notice warns that their payments will be withheld unless the Rs 152.05 crore in property taxes owed to the municipal corporation is settled.
Last year, the BMC's Assessment and Collection (A&C) department issued notices to metro contractors, demanding the clearance of pending dues totaling Rs 332.78 crore for utilising a plot owned by the civic body. Two contractors—HCC MMS (JV) and CEC-ITD (Continental ITD Cementation Tata Projects JV) were asked to pay Rs 53.17 crore and Rs 98.88 crore respectively.
The plot, located at the Wadala Truck Terminal, has been used by these contractors as a casting yard for the Mumbai Metro Line 3 project. The FPJ has obtained copies of the notices sent by both the BMC and MMRCL regarding the unpaid property taxes.
However, the contractors, have obtained a stay on the matter from the Bombay High Court (HC) in April 2024, which has since been extended. On October 25, 2024, the court ordered that the ad-interim relief would continue until the next hearing, which is still pending.
Meanwhile, the BMC had sent a letter to the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) on January 31 this year, urging it to recover the dues from the contractors. Acting on this, MMRCL issued a notice to the contractors on March 13, stating that the action was being taken to protect its interests and ensure compliance with all legal and financial obligations. MMRCL, however, was unavailable for comment.
