Patna: Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has raised the Annual Rental Value (ARV) of properties by 15%—the first revision in nearly 30 years. The hike, effective June 24, 2026, is expected to boost civic revenue for improving roads, drainage, sanitation and street lighting. PMC has also offered a 5% rebate on lump-sum property tax payments made by June 30 for FY 2026–27.Average daily receipts has risen sharply from around Rs 50 lakh to nearly Rs 70 lakh. On Thursday alone, the civic body collected over Rs 68 lakh from 1,480 holdings by 3.33 pm, reflecting a significant uptick soon after the revised rates came into effect.PMC officials said the ARV had remained unchanged for more than three decades despite statutory provisions requiring periodic revision. “The enhanced revenue is expected to strengthen civic finances and boost spending on roads, drainage, sanitation, street lighting and other infrastructure projects,” said mayor Sita Sahu.She attributed the jump in collections to a combination of the ARV revision and a rush among taxpayers to avail the 5% rebate on lump-sum payments before the June 30 deadline. The rebate scheme, applicable for the 2026-27 financial year, has triggered higher compliance and increased participation over the past two days, she said.The revised ARV, which serves as the basis for property tax assessment, came into force on the evening of June 24 after receiving approval from the urban development and housing department. The increase applies uniformly across property categories within PMC limits and marks the first revision since 1995, ending a gap of over three decades.Data available on Thursday afternoon showed that the New Capital Circle recorded the highest collection, garnering over Rs 21 lakh from 314 holdings. Pataliputra circle followed with around Rs 17 lakh from 436 holdings, while Kankarbagh circle collected Rs 13 lakh from 278 holdings. Bankipur circle accounted for over Rs 9 lakh from 200 holdings, Azimabad circle collected more than Rs 2 lakh from 172 holdings, and Patna City circle contributed Rs 3 lakh from 80 holdings.Another official said said the revision was carried out under Section 127 of the Bihar Municipal Act, 2007, which mandates a minimum 15% increase in rental values every five years. The Act also permits revisions within the five-year period with prior state approval. Although PMC’s empowered standing committee and municipal boards cleared the proposal in 2021, implementation was delayed pending approval.
