New Delhi, Oct. 30 -- India's direct tax authority plans to buy land worth around Rs.5,000 crore in major cities, such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, to build new income-tax offices and staff quarters, two senior government officials said.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has identified an MTNL plot in Connaught Place, New Delhi, valued at about Rs.2,000 crore for a new office, and is eyeing parcels in Santa Cruz and Powai in Mumbai and in Bengaluru for both offices and staff housing, the officials said. The plans include creating residential facilities for about 1,000 officers in Mumbai over the medium term, one of them added.

A shortage of permanent office space and government quarters in major cities has forced I-T officers ...