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New Delhi : The Income-Tax ( I-T) Department’s new Office-cum-Residential complex, ‘The Chinars’, at Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, was inaugurated on November 22, 2021 by Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the presence of Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir Manoj Sinha.
Secretary, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, Tarun Bajaj; Chairman, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), J B Mohapatra, and Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) M Ajit Kumar were also present on the occasion.
In her keynote address on the occasion, Sitharaman thanked the people of Jammu & Kashmir for their contribution to the efforts in enabling the commissioning of ‘The Chinars’ Aaykar Bhawan and the attached facilities. Dedicating the project to the people of the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), she said that the I-T office at Srinagar will act as a bridge to connect the people of the region to the best taxpayer services and also help them in their taxation issues through the Aaykar Sewa Kendra. Sitharaman also observed that it will provide an enabling environment for the “bhagidari” i.e. people’s participation in the development of the region, according to a PIB release.
Manoj Sinha, Lt. Governor of UT of J&K, in his address, highlighted the importance of taxpayers in the economic development of the country and said that the Income Tax department is becoming seamless from the stage of filing return to the issuance of refund. Sinha observed that the success of the taxpayers will lead to greater economic development of UT of J&K. Sinha also appealed to the taxpayers to honestly pay their taxes.
Tarun Bajaj, Revenue Secretary, GoI, in his address, emphasised the increasing contribution of the UT of J&K to the exchequer reflected in the upgradation of the Income Tax charge at Srinagar to the level of Principal Commissioner of Income Tax at Srinagar. Bajaj also said that the newly inaugurated Income Tax office will serve as a platform for providing information, knowledge, guidance and ease to the taxpayers, enabling them to reap the benefits of increased economic activity.
J B Mohapatra, Chairman, CBDT, said that opening a new office at Srinagar will prioritise taxpayer services at the doorstep of the people of UT of J&K.
The event marks a significant step towards realising the Government of India’s vision of delivering quality taxpayer services and facilitating participation of all segments of taxpayers in Jammu & Kashmir in the nation’s tax system in a spirit of trust and respect. From a modest rented abode in Barbarshah in 1954 to one of the largest civilian offices of the Government of India at Srinagar, the establishment of the office with state-of-the-art facilities for the taxpayers reflects the commitment on the part of the IT Department to bring taxpayer services closer to the people of the region.
The 3.5 acre campus, adjoining the silk factory on the banks of River Jhelum, was acquired in 2008 at the cost of Rs 13.50 crore. The project was started in November 2015 by NBCC and was completed in July 2020. The total expenditure made till date is Rs 27.78 crore. The complex consists of a total of 8 buildings having office building of Principal Commissioner of Income Tax Srinagar and its associated offices, 33 Residential units and an eight-room guest house.