Pragya Nagar won’t be charged property tax

Surat: Residents of Pragya Nagar in the City Light area have been informed by Surat Municipal Corporation officials that they will not have to pay property tax for the demolished colony, after residents received tax bills for 2025-26 despite their homes being razed in 2025 itself. TOI had raised the issue, after which the city civic body took this step.The matter came to light after residents of around 700 homes raised concerns about being issued property tax bills even though evacuation notices had been issued in 2024 and the colony had been demolished in 2025. On Thursday, when some residents checked online, the portal showed that no dues pending.SMC officials told property owners no property tax would be charged as the colony no longer exists."Some of us tried to check our dues online, but it now shows nothing is pending. Some residents have been informed that now we will not be charged property tax and we hope the process of development of our new homes also speeds up," said Anil Lonari, a resident."This will give relief to my family as we will be able to save some money while we are already paying rent as our homes have been demolished. A large number of families will benefit," said Himanshu Patel, a resident of the colony."No property taxes will be charged from Pragya Nagar residents as the colony has been demolished. The process was underway to stop the property tax charge, and it has been completed now," said a SMC official.Pragya Nagar was a housing colony for the economically weaker sections of society with 44 apartment blocks, each having 16 flats. Around 3,000 people lived there before the demolition. Many families have since shifted to rented accommodation.Residents said they have not received financial support for rent because the redevelopment project has not yet begun. The flats were bought by residents under a govt-subsidized scheme for the economically weaker sections. Built around two decades ago, the structures were demolished due to their poor condition.Residents also raised concerns about other charges linked to the demolished colony. They said water charges were levied on residents of 15 of the 44 buildings. In most redevelopment cases, once a project is handed over to a developer, the developer pays rent to displaced flat owners until new homes are ready. In Pragya Nagar, however, residents said they are neither receiving rent nor any clarity on when redevelopment will begin or when they will be able to return to their new homes.Get real-time updates and result insights on the CBSE 12 Result 2026.