PATNA: The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) is launching a comprehensive survey to address the significant disparity between electricity connections and registered properties in the state capital. This initiative aims to identify unregistered properties, verify self-assessments, confirm actual occupancy status, and uncover misuse of residential properties for commercial activities.
According to PMC officials, there are over five lakh electricity connections in Patna, yet only around 3.06 lakh properties are registered with the municipal body. Alarmed by this inconsistency, the urban development and housing department (UDHD) has directed a thorough survey across all sectors under PMC jurisdiction to validate these records.
This effort has gained urgency following a recent Supreme Court ruling instructing municipal bodies nationwide to identify residential areas misused for commercial purposes and submit affidavits detailing such violations by mid-May 2026.
Patna Mayor Sita Sahu announced that the process of engaging an expert agency has already begun, alongside PMC’s own surveyors. “The agency will conduct door-to-door surveys in every ward to map properties officially marked as residential but used for shops, offices, coaching centers, lodges, eateries, guest houses, and other commercial activities,” she stated.
She emphasized that the survey aims to broaden the tax base and prevent revenue losses. “It will facilitate a more accurate assessment of property tax based on actual usage and enhance overall urban governance,” the mayor said.
To streamline this operation, the PMC has divided its six sectors—Azimabad, Bankipur, Kankerbagh, New Capital, Patliputra, and Patna City—into 375 sectors for tax collection and sanitation monitoring. Survey teams will systematically cover each sector.
PMC’s public relations officer, Harshita, explained the current system, stating that property owners are required by law to perform self-assessments. “Through the PMC portal, they enter details like name, address, ward number, property area, and category—residential or commercial—and upload supporting documents. Following self-assessment, they receive a self-assessment number for tax payment,” she added.
However, she clarified that a permanent Property ID (PID) is issued only after physical verification by the revenue teams from the respective sectors.
“The survey will confirm whether the submitted assessments are accurate and check if the property is used for self-residence, rented, or repurposed for commercial activities such as shops or offices,” Harshita explained.
She highlighted that different usage types incur varying tax rates, with rental or non-residential properties generally facing higher holding taxes.
“Many individuals fail to report changes in usage, such as renting out a house or establishing a shop, due to the subsequent minor tax increase for commercial use. All such changes will be cross-verified by our teams,” she noted, adding that the significant gap between electricity connections and registered properties in Patna was recently brought to the department’s attention.
The PMC is also providing a five percent rebate on property tax for lump-sum payments made before June 30, the first quarter of the financial year.
Additionally, individuals acquiring new properties—whether land or flats—within PMC limits must complete self-assessment within 30 days. Failing to comply will result in penalties of Rs 2,000 for residential and Rs 5,000 for non-residential properties, officials stated.
