The Income Tax Department’s new Office Complex, the ‘Pratyaksh Kar Bhawan’, at Lucknow was inaugurated today i. e. 26.11.2021 by Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Yogi Aditya Nath and Union Finance& Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in the presence of Union Minister of State Finance Shri Pankaj Chaudhary. Finance Minister Uttar Pradesh, Shri Suresh Kumar Khanna and Minister of Law & Justice, Uttar Pradesh, Shri Brajesh Pathak also graced the occasion. The Secretary (Revenue), Shri Tarun Bajaj, Chairman, CBDT, Shri J.B. Mohapatra, and Chairman, CBIC, Sh M. Ajit Kumar were also present on the occasion.
In her keynote address, the Finance Minister thanked the people of the region and noted with satisfaction the increase in the number of taxpayers and quantum of revenue collection in the region. Smt. Sitharaman observed that the increased tax collections have contributed to the development of the region, which is visible in projects like ‘Poorvanchal Expressway’, 'PM Awas Yojana', ‘Har Ghar Jal Yojana’, augmented health infrastructure, etc. in the region.
Shri Yogi Adityanath, in his address, thanked the Government of India (GoI) and theFinance Minister for the new 'Pratyaksh Kar Bhawan' at Lucknow, which is compliant with the best practices in construction and meets the aspirations of the population of a rising Uttar Pradesh.The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh highlighted that the tax collections have grown substantially in UP, which has been due to the spirit of ‘Samvad’. The CM thanked the GoI for streamlining the taxation procedures & also urged the business community to come forward for voluntary compliance.
MoSFinanceShri Pankaj Chaudhary, in his address, said that the new office building will enable better taxpayer services. Shri Chaudhary further observed that the improved law & order situation and economic development in the State in recent years will also augment revenue collections.
Addressing the audience on the occasion, the Revenue Secretary, Shri Tarun Bajaj, observed that better facilities will translate into improved services for the taxpayers. Shri Bajaj exhorted the tax officers to be guided by the twin objectives of facilitating the taxpayers & collection of due taxes.
Chairman CBDT Shri J.B. Mohapatra welcomed the dignitaries, thanking them for their presence on the occasion. In his address, he shared his perspective on the growth potential of the UP (East) Region. Shri Mohapatra also highlighted the main features of the 'Pratyaksh Kar Bhawan', Lucknow.
The jurisdiction of the UP (East) Region of Income Tax is spread over 44 Districts of Uttar Pradesh and a part of Uttarakhand (Kumaon Region). Over the years, with the economic growth witnessed by the Region, the presence of the Income Tax Department has also expanded. With a view to provide efficient tax administration and quality taxpayer-services, need for a new office building was felt.
The Land for the building was acquired from the Lucknow Development Authority in 2002. The construction work of the complex by NBCC started in 2017 and was completed in December 2020 at a cost of is Rs. 85.40 crore. It is a seven-storey building, constructed using global best practices, over an area of 21,527 sq. ft. The covered area of all the floors aggregates to approx. 1,30,000 sq. ft., including two basements for vehicle parking and record rooms.
The building, and the enabling infrastructure for quality taxpayer services it is equipped with, is not only a recognition of the rising potential of the UP (East) Region as a contributor to the national exchequer but also reflects the commitment of the Income Tax Department to provide seamless taxpayer services in the region. The Aaykar Seva Kendra which is an integral part of the building will facilitate the taxpayers and assist them in their taxation-related queries and issues. The other amenities in the building include: 3 conference rooms, 1 auditorium with seating capacity 180 persons, a guest house with 11 rooms/suites, a gym, a creche, a reading lounge, library, and canteen facility. It has all the features of a green building, viz. energy efficient, effective waste utilization and disposal, and equipped with renewable energy sources. Elements of modern technology have been incorporated to ensure reduced energy and water consumption.
Following the inauguration of the building, the dignitaries took a physical tour of the building.
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