Hyderabad's Iconic Taj Banjara Hotel Sealed: Know Details

This is not the first time the Taj Banjara Hotel has faced closure. Previously, the hotel remained shut for 14 months due to a dispute between the management and leaseholders.

The hotel management has yet to issue an official statement regarding the sealing or the pending dues. 

Source : Instagram

The iconic 5-star Taj Banjara Hotel, a prominent landmark on Banjara Hills Road No. 1, has been sealed by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) due to non-payment of property tax amounting to Rs 1.40 crore over the past two years. The action comes after repeated notices and a final red notice issued by the civic body, which went unheeded by the hotel management.

Located in one of Hyderabad’s most sought-after commercial hubs, Taj Banjara Hotel boasts 122 luxurious rooms, a 24-hour reception, a state-of-the-art fitness center, an outdoor swimming pool, and multiple dining options, including the popular Waterside Café and Kebab-e-Bahar restaurant. Despite its premium offerings and prime location, the hotel has faced financial and operational challenges in recent years.

This is not the first time the Taj Banjara Hotel has faced closure. Previously, the hotel remained shut for 14 months due to a dispute between the management and leaseholders, which led to the expiration of their agreement.

The hotel management has yet to issue an official statement regarding the sealing or the pending dues. 

Following a recent crackdown, a hotel management assured GHMC officials that pending dues would be cleared by the end of the day, as per a report on IANS.

GHMC officials emphasized their firm stance on tax recovery, reiterating that they would not hesitate to seize properties of defaulters. The civic body currently faces a massive backlog of Rs 9,800 crore in property tax dues within its jurisdiction. For the ongoing financial year, GHMC has set a collection target of Rs 2,200 crore, of which Rs 1,400 crore has been collected so far.

Despite GHMC's repeated appeals, out of 23 lakh buildings under its limits, only 12 lakh property owners pay their taxes regularly. In the last financial year, GHMC collected Rs 320 crore in property tax from 1.08 lakh buildings.