Hyderabad, March 2026 – The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation sealed Katriya Hotel on Raj Bhavan Road over unpaid property tax dues of ₹6.16 crore. Despite the initial sealing action, routine activities at the hotel continued but GHMC officials subsequently intervened and ordered a complete halt to business operations, after which hotel staff asked guests who had already booked rooms to vacate the premises. The action was carried out on Monday, March 23, with the hotel having evaded tax amounting to ₹6.16 crore since 2017, making it one of the city’s most prominent chronic defaulters. The drive extended beyond Katriya Hotel, six defaulters were booked in total, including Aurora College in Nampally (₹1.28 crore since 2016), Swarna Transport in Goshamahal (₹43.78 lakh since 2016), Sony Center in Goshamahal (₹39.68 lakh since 2018), Shameem Sultana Cloth Mall in Banjara Hills (₹35.27 lakh since 2014), and Synfosys Business Solutions in Nagarjuna Circle (₹17.94 lakh since 2012).
The Scale of Hyderabad’s Property Tax Default Problem
Before the trifurcation of GHMC, the property tax collection target for the current financial year was ₹3,000 crore. GHMC, the Cyberabad Municipal Corporation and the Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation have together collected around ₹2,000 crore so far this fiscal. Arrears within GHMC limits alone stand at approximately ₹1,400 crore spread across nearly 3.5 lakh assessments. Across the three corporations, 6-7 lakh property owners are estimated to be in default. Around 30% of total areas, ₹900 crore to ₹1,000 crore are from commercial establishments.
GHMC has so far collected ₹847.1 crore in property tax this enforcement cycle, with officials aiming to collect about ₹3.5 crore daily to meet the target. Authorities have issued red notices to 45,821 defaulters and sealed 30 properties so far. The corporation has also sealed Sultan Class Mall on Road No. 10, Banjara Hills, over property tax dues of ₹35.25 lakh.
The One-Time Settlement Window – Closing March 31
Property owners have been urged to utilise the One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme before the deadline, which offers a 90% waiver on interest on outstanding dues, described by authorities as a final opportunity for defaulters to regularise payments and avoid coercive action. Under Section 269 of the GHMC Act, the corporation has the power to issue distress warrants enabling attachment and auction of movable assets and properties. GHMC reiterated that property tax payments will be accepted exclusively through online platforms including the official website, MyGHMC app, Mee Seva centres, and Citizen Service Centres.
