Circle rate hike deferred in Ghaziabad over objections

GHAZIABAD: For the first time in 12 years, the Ghaziabad administration has deferred the announcement of circle rates on August 8.

This is despite a proposal to hike the circle rates after a gap of six years. The district magistrate has attributed the delay to the rising number of objections and suggestions. At least 15 more days are required to dispose of the same, TOI has learnt.

“By August 3, which was the last date for filing objections to the proposed circle rates that were put in public domain, there were over 40 of them. The figures subsequently crossed 60 and now it has surged past 100,” said the district magistrate RK Singh.

“As per rule, a meeting is called to review objections and suggestions that we receive from the public and ones that hold merit are incorporated before the circle rates are implemented. This year, we need extra time and hopefully in another 15 days, the new circle rate will be implemented,” he added.

Asked about the possible loss to the state exchequer, Singh said, “Releasing new circle rates for the ongoing fiscal on August 8 every year is not a law, but is more of a practice. It is not advisable to implement the new circle rates until all objections are disposed of.”

The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has already mapped an “influence zone”, stretching up to 1.5kms on both sides of the eight RRTS stations in Ghaziabad. Though the areas near the stations are already developed, they will still stand to benefit from RRTS and accordingly the circle rates may be hiked.

Along the RRTS corridor in Guldhar, the GDA has also identified 450 hectares of land and another 200 hectares in Duhai, which will be developed under a special area development zone.

Here, areas will be developed as residential, commercial and industrial hubs, and this may effect a circle rate hike.

The current circle rate in Kaushambi for residential areas is between Rs 72,500 per sqm and Rs 79,700 per sqm. The hike proposed for the said township is between Rs 85,000 per sqm and Rs 95,000 per sqm.

Similarly, in Indirapuram, the rate for residential areas is between Rs 66,500 per sqm and Rs 73,100 per sqm, and the proposed hike for the township is Rs 78,000 per sqm and Rs 82,000 per sqm.

Vasundhara’s existing circle rate under the residential category is between Rs 56,500 per sqm and Rs 62,100 per sqm, while the hike proposed is between Rs 66,000 per sqm and Rs 73,000 per sqm.