MC to sell 691 shops, expects Rs 70 crore

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 16

The Municipal Corporation (MC) is all set to sell its 691 shops located in different markets. MC officials expect to generate Rs 70 crore from these properties.

According to information, the MC owns more than 1,100 shops in the city in which tenants have been running their business for years. Last year, the MC had offered the tenets ownership of the properties for which they had to purchase the shops. Most of the shopkeepers are not even paying the rent to the MC. Instead of vacating the shops, the MC had issued a notice to the shopkeepers to submit a demand draft for Rs 1,000 if they were interested to buy the shops till March 31, 2018.

The estate wing had received applications from 691 shopkeepers, who were interested to buy the shops. The other 400 shopkeepers did not respond. The MC General House had passed a resolution to sell these shops. The resolution was sent to the government for approval. Now, the MC has got the nod.

MC Commissioner Komal Mittal held a meeting in this regard. MC officials expect to generate more than Rs 70 crore from the auction of these shops. Most of these properties are at prime location, such as the inner ring road, bus stand, IDH Market or Gurdwara Shaheedan Sahib Market.

The MC has also decided to take action against those traders, who are not paying the rent. The estate wing of the Municipal Corporation (MC) has issued notices to more than 400 of its tenants, asking them to pay rent or leave the possession.

Estate Officer Sushant Bhatia said, “We have served notices to the shopkeepers to pay the pending rent. If someone doesn’t respond, we will get the property vacated.”