Services rendered for construction of commercial or industrial buildings are taxable. However, Construction of roads is not liable to service tax. A point has been raised that if a commercial complex is constructed which also contains roads whether the value of construction of roads would be liable to service tax.
If the contract for construction is a single contract and the construction of road is not recognized as a separate activity as per the contract , then the service tax would be leviable on the gross amount charged including the value of road construction. When services provided under a contract consists of a number of different elements , a view has to be taken on the basis of the facts and circumstances of each case to whether the service provider has made a single overall supply or a supply of different services which are to be treated differently.
When roads and bridges are undertaken by particular persons for private use, the statute does not specify any restrictions as to the use of such facilities and hence whether put to public or private use , all work contract pertaining to such activities shall be out of the scope of the levy of Service Tax.