Thane: The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) collected Rs 556.2 crore in property tax for 2025–26 by Jan end, falling more than Rs 200 crore short of its annual target of Rs 841 crore, a major revenue setback for the cash-strapped civic body.Property tax is one of TMC’s largest sources of income, funding key civic services and infrastructure projects. The shortfall intensified pressure on the corporation to manage its finances effectively, especially as only two months are available to recover the shortfall.According to an official release detailing the collections administrative ward-wise, the Majiwada–Manpada ward recorded the highest collection at Rs 175 crore, followed by Vartak Nagar with Rs 88.7 crore and Naupada–Kopri with Rs 74.1 crore, highlighting disparities in tax compliance across the city. Meanwhile, residents from Majiwada–Manpada expressed frustration over the lack of basic services despite high tax contributions. “We pay some of the highest property taxes in the city, but roads remain clogged, broken, and water supply is irregular,” said Lipson Paul, a local resident. Another resident, Ramesh Patil, added, “It’s frustrating to see the corporation struggling with finances when taxpayers like us are paying on time.”The issue of the poor financial condition of TMC was also frequently highlighted by BJP MLA Sanjay Kelkar, who recently pointed out that the corporation needs to pull up its socks and start getting its treasury in shape. Meanwhile, following a review meeting earlier this week, municipal commissioner Saurabh Rao directed officials to disconnect water supply to residential defaulters and seize and seal non-residential properties that did not pay dues. “Special tax payment camps will also be organised in large housing complexes to boost collections,” he announced.The significant shortfall once again exposed weaknesses in revenue recovery at a time when the TMC is grappling with tight cash flow to fund essential services.
