Raghav Chadha Seeks Property Tax and Urban Planning Reforms for Bengali Market

Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has urged the central government to introduce legal amendments addressing outdated property tax calculations and rigid urban planning norms in the Bengali Market area. His proposals include implementing the Unit Area Method (UAM) for property tax transparency and allowing structural modifications to homes currently restricted under Lutyens Bungalow Zone (LBZ) regulations.

In a letter to the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Chadha highlighted that 90% of Delhi already follows UAM, but a 2019 Supreme Court ruling invalidated its implementation in New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) areas, causing revenue collection issues. He urged the government to amend the NDMC Act, 1994, through a financial bill in Parliament to legally authorize UAM and streamline property tax assessments.

In a separate appeal, Chadha also advocated for Bengali Market residents, arguing that the area, despite being classified under the LBZ, consists of plotted residential houses rather than heritage bungalows. The MP stressed that restrictions imposed since 2003 have unfairly affected 60 single-storey homes, preventing necessary renovations and modernization. He recommended:

• Allowing lift installations for elderly residents.
• Standardizing Ground +2 constructions across all properties.
• Reevaluating Bengali Market’s inclusion under LBZ rules to ensure fair treatment of residents.

Chadha’s push for reform underscores Delhi’s evolving urban needs, balancing heritage conservation with modernization, and ensuring property tax transparency through legislative amendments.