Advertisement
In this episode of Prop Personalities, we sit down with Hars...
Luxury real estate is one of the most talked-about segments ...
Welcome to Prop Personalities by Prop News Time - a podcast ...
Airports play a much bigger role than just enabling travel -...
Why does the same hotel brand operate multiple properties in...
The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has initiated a comprehensive citywide property survey to address revenue leakages and identify discrepancies in property records. The exercise, undertaken in the past week, aims to bridge the gap between over five lakh electricity connections and only around 3.06 lakh registered properties. The survey will involve door-to-door verification, geo-tagging, and cross-checking of self-assessed data to detect unregistered holdings and misuse of residential properties for commercial purposes. The move follows directions from the urban development and housing department and aligns with a Supreme Court mandate requiring states to report unauthorised land-use changes. The initiative is expected to strengthen property tax collection, improve compliance, and enhance municipal financial capacity for urban infrastructure.
The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has initiated a citywide property survey in the past week to identify revenue leakages, verify property records, and detect unauthorised land-use changes, with the exercise aimed at strengthening municipal finances and improving compliance across the city. Advertisement
The survey has been triggered by a significant discrepancy between the number of electricity connections and registered properties within the municipal limits. Officials indicated that while Patna has more than five lakh electricity connections, only around 3.06 lakh properties are formally registered as taxable holdings, pointing to a substantial gap in the tax base.
To address this, the civic body has begun preparations for a comprehensive door-to-door survey across all wards. The process will involve mapping properties, verifying ownership and occupancy details, and cross-checking information submitted through self-assessment mechanisms. Authorities have also initiated the empanelment of an external expert agency to support the exercise alongside municipal survey teams.
The survey will focus on multiple aspects, including identification of unregistered properties, verification of declared property categories, and detection of misuse of residential premises for commercial activities such as shops, coaching centres, guest houses, and offices. Officials noted that such misuse contributes to both revenue loss and non-compliance with planning norms.
The initiative has gained urgency following directions issued by the urban development and housing department, as well as a recent Supreme Court directive requiring municipal bodies across the country to identify and report cases where residential areas are being used for commercial purposes. The PMC is expected to compile findings and submit compliance reports within stipulated timelines.
From a revenue perspective, the exercise is expected to expand the municipal tax base by bringing unregistered properties into the system and ensuring accurate assessment of existing holdings. The civic body has previously undertaken similar survey-driven initiatives, which contributed to improved tax collection and identification of defaulters.
Officials stated that geo-tagging and digital mapping tools would be used during the survey to improve accuracy and transparency. These measures are intended to create a more reliable property database, enabling better monitoring and enforcement of tax compliance.
The move also reflects a broader effort to strengthen urban governance in Patna, where rapid expansion and changing land-use patterns have led to inconsistencies in property records. By updating and verifying data, the civic body aims to align taxation with actual usage and occupancy conditions.
The survey is expected to be conducted in phases across the city, with municipal teams covering all wards under the PMC jurisdiction. Following completion, authorities may initiate enforcement actions against non-compliant properties, including penalties, reassessment of tax liabilities, and corrective measures for land-use violations.
The development highlights the increasing reliance on data-driven approaches by urban local bodies to improve revenue collection and ensure adherence to planning regulations, particularly in fast-growing cities where property records often lag behind ground realities.
5th Jun, 2025
25th May, 2023
11th May, 2023
27th Apr, 2023
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
