The Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) has revised its present land use plan to allow for twice as many commercial premises as there are currently, or an additional 20,000, in order to increase revenue.
The board has sent its recommendation to the principal director of Southern Command in Pune for approval; if approved, it would be discussed at the following meeting. According to sources within SCB, the initiative, if accepted, will be a big relief to the board, which is expected to lose a significant amount of its income starting in November once the collection of toll tax from excellent cars is prohibited. This action is being taken in accordance with a directive from the minister of defence.
According to the blueprint, SCB has suggested eight different types of zones, with commercial being the most profitable (along with residential, mixed, limited mixed, economically disadvantaged region, institutional area, green zone, army/defence, and government).
If the plan is approved, the number of commercial premises would probably double, according to the officials who drafted it.
According to SCB Tax Wing figures, over 10,000 commercial properties currently pay 40 to 60 crore in taxes annually.
In addition to this, the board receives close to 60 lakh yearly in trade licence fees. “Although there isn’t any open ground along the road to develop commercial units, if the new land use plan is approved, we can convert some existing residential structures to commercial use by following specific processes. Unauthorized use of residential quarters for commercial reasons is already common among property owners, according to a senior SCB tax wing officer.
Additionally, he claimed that the action would boost commercial activity in the Secunderabad Cantonment Board region, where businesses like hotels, grocers, clothing stores, hospitals, event venues, and shopping malls are positioned close to the neighbourhoods of Karkhana, Trimulgherry, Bowenpally, Bolarum, Sikh Village, and Tadbund.
In addition, the new land use A mixed-use zone with both residential and business spaces will also be allowed under the design.
