With online shopping on the rise and traditional businesses struggling to stay afloat, shopkeepers in Ahmedabad are demanding that the government abolish the double property tax levied on rented commercial properties.
Shopkeepers say they are already under pressure from online sellers who offer goods at cheaper rates, leaving small traders unable to compete. Many have shifted to rented premises to cut costs, but the imposition of property tax at double the rate for rented spaces has worsened their financial strain.
Ahmedabad Vyapari Mahasangh president Meghraj Dodwani said most shopkeepers are forced to run their businesses on loans, and the added burden of higher property tax is pushing many towards closure. “Those who rent commercial spaces should not be penalised with double taxation,” he stressed.
The Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has also taken up the matter with the state government, urging it to remove the disparity and provide immediate relief to traders battling rising costs and shrinking margins.