The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has achieved a historic milestone in its financial administration, recording its highest-ever revenue collection from trade licences. For the first time, the civic body's earnings from this source have surged past the significant Rs 100-crore mark.
A Historic Financial Milestone
With the deadline for payment concluding on Saturday, GHMC successfully amassed a staggering Rs 113 crore from approximately 1.15 lakh commercial establishments operating within the city. This collection represents a substantial jump of Rs 20 crore compared to the previous year's figures, underscoring a significant improvement in revenue mobilization.
Officials have credited this impressive surge to a combination of enhanced awareness campaigns and stricter monitoring mechanisms targeting businesses across Hyderabad. A focused effort to improve compliance, initiated last year, has yielded clear results. Revenue, which stood at Rs 83 crore in 2023, climbed to Rs 94 crore in 2024 before reaching the current record of Rs 113 crore.
Substantial Scope for Further Growth
Despite the record-breaking haul, municipal authorities have revealed a striking statistic: nearly 50% of commercial establishments have still not renewed their mandatory trade licences. This indicates a vast potential for further revenue collection that remains untapped.
GHMC estimates that with full compliance, it has the potential to collect up to Rs 400 crore annually through trade licence fees alone. This fee is a critical component of the corporation's non-tax revenue stream, which funds various civic amenities and projects.
Enforcement Drives to Begin
Starting Sunday, the corporation will initiate enforcement drives and penalty measures against defaulters. Establishments that have failed to renew their licences will face actions, including the imposition of a late fee. Officials expect additional revenue to flow into the civic coffers in the coming weeks from these penalties.
Every commercial entity operating within GHMC limits is legally required to obtain an annual, renewable trade licence. The corporation classifies businesses into five major categories for this purpose:
- Eateries and food establishments
- Veterinary facilities
- Medical centres and clinics
- Businesses classified as dangerous and offensive trades
- General offices and other commercial setups
This record collection highlights both the success of GHMC's recent compliance drives and the significant gap that still exists, pointing towards a continued focus on enforcement and civic responsibility among Hyderabad's business community.
