Property owners in Chennai have been given additional time to pay their property tax, as the city's special property tax collection drive has been extended until July 31. The decision comes after nearly half of the assessed property owners are yet to pay their taxes for the current collection period. According to the latest data, the city has around 14.23 lakh assessed properties, but only 6.98 lakh property owners have completed their property tax payments so far. Approximately 7.25 lakh property owners still have pending dues, highlighting the need for an extended collection campaign. The special collection camps, which began earlier this month, have received a positive response from taxpayers. Between July 3 and July 15, nearly Rs 96 crore was collected through these camps. Encouraged by this response and the large number of pending payments, authorities have decided to continue the camps until the end of July. During the extended drive, officials will intensify efforts to recover pending property tax across all parts of the city. Property owners can visit the special collection camps or use the online payment facility to clear their dues before the revised deadline. Property tax remains one of the primary revenue sources for the city's civic administration. The funds collected are used to support essential public services and infrastructure development, including road maintenance, solid waste management, street lighting, public parks, drainage systems, and sanitation projects. Officials have advised all property owners to complete their payments before July 31 to avoid penal interest and additional charges for delayed payment. Timely payment of property tax will also help ensure uninterrupted civic services and support ongoing urban development projects across Chennai.