Believe it or not, your Railway station owes Rs 1.5 crore

CHANDIGARH: The Municipal Corporation has served notice on the Chandigarh Railway Station asking them to clear Rs 1.5 crore service charge dues. The civic body sent the notice last week and asked the railways to remit the sum within 30 days, else action would be taken.

This isn't the first time the municipal body has sent such a notice to the railway station, sources in the corporation said. A couple of years back, the railways paid Rs 62 lakh after a similar notice was sent to them. But thereafter, the railways again defaulted.

"We will conduct a survey of nonpayers throughout the city. Instead of the current self-declaration system, we should have records of all properties and track if they have paid taxes and service charge," said municipal commissioner Baldeo Purushartha. Civic officials reportedly telephoned the railways station officials recently and later held meetings to discuss matter.

"Railway officials have been briefed and we hope to recover the outstanding soon. We have powers to seize accounts and seal buildings. But this is a public utility, we cannot do anything drastic. We are hopeful the dispute will be resolved," a senior MC officer said.

The civic body has in the past sealed some commercial establishments in thecity after they failed to clear their outstanding property tax.

Source - Times Of India