MCD trade licence portal: Delhi traders flag GTL fees charged on residential areas in mixed-use properties

Delhi market groups said the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) must fix problems in its new integrated trade licence portal. Traders alleged the system is adding General Trade Licence (GTL) fees to residential parts of mixed-use properties. Traders said the charge should apply only to areas used for business.

Representative image

The concerns were shared at a meeting where MCD officials sought feedback on the combined portal for trade licences and property tax. After the discussion, traders submitted a written representation. The document asked for technical fixes and policy clarity. Traders said these steps would make the portal simpler to use.

Integrated trade licence portal and GTL fee calculation

Traders said the portal is computing GTL charges using the full built-up area tied to a property’s Unique Property Identification Code (UPIC). Market groups said this happens even when only a section is used commercially. They argued the General Trade Licence is for commercial activity. They asked MCD to calculate fees only for the business-used portion.

"The General Trade Licence is meant only for commercial activity. If a trader runs a business from one room while the rest of the property is residential, charging licence fees on the entire built-up area is unfair,\" Kamala Nagar market association president Nitin Gupta said.

Integrated trade licence portal confusion over GTL and HTL

The representation also raised confusion between GTL and Health Trade Licence (HTL) requirements. Traders said some businesses appear in both categories on the portal. They listed salons, beauty parlours, grocery stores, confectionery shops, dry-cleaning units and tailoring establishments. Traders asked MCD to issue clear zone-wise guidelines on which licence applies.

Traders also asked for a portal option to mark cases where a trade licence does not apply. They said applicants with valid licences should be able to enter existing licence details during applications. The groups also requested a way to link a business proprietor with a family-owned property. They said such links should not be treated as tenancy.

Integrated trade licence portal features and licence output issues

Market associations sought editing options before final submission and an online grievance system with ticket tracking. They also asked for contact details of officers handling portal issues. Traders requested detailed user guides and FAQs. Another complaint concerned the \"Others\" trade category. They said user-entered descriptions do not appear on the issued licence.

\"We welcome digitisation, but the system should make compliance easier rather than create new hurdles. We hope the corporation will address these issues while the portal is still new,\" Gupta said.

Traders said MCD officials told the meeting that the feedback would be reviewed. The officials reportedly said suggestions would be examined for technical changes and policy clarifications. Traders said they expect updates in the coming days. They added that fixes could reduce confusion and improve uniform compliance across zones.

With inputs from PTI