GHMC mulls bringing theatres under trade licence net

Officials estimate that additional revenue of `100 crore can be generated by next financial year

Hyderabad: Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has decided to include movie theatres and over 70,000 commercial establishments in the trade licence net.

At present the GHMC has been collecting trade license fee only from about 1.50 lakh commercial establishments out of total 2.50 lakh. The officials are expecting additional revenue of Rs 100 crore by next financial year by bringing more establishments under the trade licence net.

The GHMC has been collecting trade license fee from commercial establishments which were identified in 1987. Preliminary survey by the GHMC revealed that there are more than 2.50 lakh commercial establishments in the city.

A senior GHMC official told The Hans India that the GHMC would bring more commercial establishments under trade license net after conducting a comprehensive survey. He said that of late the nature of commercial establishments has changed. Modern establishments like multiplexes, mobile shops and others are paying entertainment tax, but they do not pay trade license fee. He said following in the footsteps of Mumbai Municipal Corporation, the civic body would collect trade license from all modern forms of commercial establishments.

The GHMC official further said the trade license fee collected so far has increased when compared to last year. During the current financial year the corporation has collected Rs 37 crore as trade license fee.

Maddy Deekshith