Central incentive of Rs 68.5cr for HDMC after GIS survey success

Hubballi: The Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) is set to receive an incentive of Rs 68.5 crore from the Union ministry of urban development for successfully undertaking a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based property survey, becoming the first among four municipal corporations in the country to qualify for the incentive.The GIS survey, which includes 3D modelling, has been carried out by Mumbai-based Genesys International Corporation Limited since June 2025. Similar surveys were taken up in four cities — Hubballi-Dharwad, Jaipur and Kochi — but HDMC has emerged as the most systematic and meticulous, with around 80% of the work already completed.Sources said Hubballi-Dharwad has traditionally lagged in property tax collection. Although the city has over 4.5 lakh properties, HDMC managed to collect only Rs 186 crore against a target of Rs 333 crore in the 2025–26 financial year, mainly because a large number of properties remain outside the tax net.HDMC superintending engineer R Vijay Kumar said that key components of the survey — including aerial mapping, mobile reader surveys, data processing, road mapping, digital elevation models and 3D modelling of both cities — are nearing completion. "About 80% of the GIS work has been finished. Only the door-to-door survey remains," he said.The remaining exercise will be carried out jointly with the revenue department, assistant director of land records (ADLR), sub-registrar offices, Hubballi-Dharwad Urban Development Authority (Huda) and other stakeholders. A mobile application has been developed for this purpose, and the exercise is expected to take another six months, he added.Once completed, all properties will be brought under the tax net, leaving no scope for tax evasion. "This could potentially increase the corporation's revenue threefold," Vijay Kumar said.HDMC commissioner Rudresh Ghali said the Union govt had approved an incentive of Rs 68.5 crore in recognition of the speed and comprehensiveness of the survey. "Once the amount is credited, plans will be drawn up to implement development works across the twin cities," he said.