The workers’ union in the Income Tax (I-T) Department has demanded tax offices in the Air India building be moved out immediately, serving a minor blow to taxmen’s preparation for the Lok Sabha elections. The union has said the ‘life and limbs of officers’ cannot be put to risk inside the “poorly-maintained” 23-storey commercial tower at Nariman Point.

The department pays ₹48 crore in annual rent for its offices between the 13th and 20th floor. Since 2015, the structure is home to offices of the Director General (DG) Income Tax (Investigation). From here, the department operates a 24x7 control room to monitor movement of unaccounted cash during the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls.

The union protest follows an incident on the night of March 19 when an inspector on duty in the control room was trapped in the elevator on the 18th floor. The alarm was pressed, calls to rescue made, but nobody turned up for help for over an hour, eyewitnesses said. “When the liftman finally came, he could not open it. The officer struggled to breathe and was rendered unconscious,” said a senior officer. The trapped officer was only rescued after the Mumbai Fire Brigade arrived early in the morning and took him to hospital. “It is a miracle he survived after more than two hours of rescue work,” said another officer.

The union members have demanded offices and the control room be moved to the suburbs at the earliest. “We demand the offices at Air India building be moved out without any further delay. The department can get a better office with lower rent, which will save public money and provide a safe environment,” said the union letter.

In order to encourage the residents of Mumbai and contribute to the process of ensuring clean and fair elections, the I-T Department has established a 24x7 control room. The room is monitoring over 200 I-T sleuths, six Quick Response Teams, and four Air Intelligence Units carrying out surveillance duties to seize black money and valuables being funnelled through illegal modes including hawala for the elections, officials said.

But senior officers said it was unlikely the office would be moved out during the elections. Even if the demand is accepted, finding a suitable replacement would take nothing less than four months.

“Even if we start the search now, the process may take at least four months. This election is crucial and we will stay until they are over,” said a senior officer.