PATNA: The urban development and housing department (UDHD) has upgraded 19 main roads to the ‘principal main road’ (PMR) category, affecting over 5,000 households who will now face approximately 1.5 times higher residential property taxes.
This significant change in property tax assessment for the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) comes after UDHD’s approval.
The UDHD announced the upgrade of roads on May 19, leading to the PMC’s notification on December 2.
A list of 112 newly classified roads has been released by the PMC. Of these, 43 roads are now designated as PMRs, and 69 are classified as main roads. Prominent areas such as Kankarbagh, Kidwaipuri, and Ashok Rajpath have been elevated to PMR status, alongside Vidyapati Marg and Sinha Library Road.
Additionally, roads like Bakarganj-Daldali Road and Bank Road have been reclassified as main roads.
Previously, Patna had 24 PMRs and 88 main roads; categories are determined solely by road width—PMRs are over 40 feet wide, main roads are between 20 and 40 feet, and roads narrower than 20 feet fall under ‘other roads’.
Commercial property taxes are also set to rise significantly, impacting around 48,000 properties within the municipal limits. The newly issued notification under the Bihar Municipal Act, 2007, indicates tax increases ranging from 1.5 to 2 times, particularly affecting high-revenue businesses such as hotels and banks, which could see their taxes double. Other establishments like coaching centers and restaurants will experience a 1.5 times increase.
To ensure compliance, the PMC will initiate a door-to-door campaign starting Monday, aiming to assist residents with unpaid taxes and promote the One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme. This effort will also identify properties not registered in the PMC’s tax system.
Currently, there is a significant discrepancy in tax records. While the Bihar State Power Holding Corporation Limited (BSPHCL) registers over 5.48 lakh consumers in the city, the number of properties listed under the PMC is notably lower, suggesting many households remain outside the tax network.
