The Dehradun Municipal Corporation has intensified its drive to accelerate property tax collection by introducing digital billing through WhatsApp. Taxpayers are now receiving bills with direct payment links and QR codes, enabling instant online transactions. Reminders are also being sent to defaulters, while a list of major defaulters is being prepared for follow-up action.
The initiative, finalised in a meeting chaired by Mayor Saurabh Thapliyal and Municipal Commissioner Namami Bansal last month, includes the use of a verified WhatsApp number with a blue tick obtained from Meta. According to officials, this step will make payments faster and more convenient for citizens while ensuring better compliance.
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Mayor Thapliyal said that large defaulters will be contacted directly, and legal action will be initiated against those who continue to delay payments despite repeated notices. Establishments with long-pending dues will face a 12 per cent interest charge along with penalties.
In addition, new properties will be assessed for tax immediately upon completion of construction to prevent arrears. To provide relief, commercial establishments in newly created wards will have old arrears waived, with only the current year’s tax being collected.
Commissioner Bansal stressed that the initiative is not merely about revenue collection but about strengthening the corporation’s financial capacity to speed up city development projects.