PATNA, May 29 -- The state government is actively working on a proposal to hike the minimum value register (MVR) or circle rates, for land/flats during property registration. Top officials familiar with the matter said the proposal may soon go to the cabinet for approval after clearance from the registration department. Sources said an internal survey has already been conducted to gather information about the prevailing market rate of land in different parts of the state, including urban and rural areas. The MVR hike would be based on this survey so that circle rates for land (both rural and urban) are commensurate with or at par with market rates. In Bihar, the MVR revised in 2013 and 2016 was at par with market rates of land and in some districts or areas, it was higher than the market rate. This caused consternation for people buying properties as they had to pay higher stamp duty despite purchasing land at a lower rate. The prices of flats also shot up due to the revised MVR. Real estate experts suggest this is perhaps why the government has proposed enhancing the MVR regularly, with a gap of two to three years in the last decade. A senior official in the registration department, seeking anonymity, said, "The market rate of land has galloped across the state, but the MVR has not been revised for a long period. An internal survey was done to assess the market rate of land in various areas and it is being studied. There is a need for MVR revision, and discussions are actively ongoing about this." Sources said that the MVR enhancement may be finalised next month, after which a proposal would be sent to the cabinet for final approval. Another registration official, in the know of the matter, said, "Discussions are ongoing, and various departments are also being consulted in this regard." Sources said this time, the hike in MVR would be effected for land in different categories in rural areas and also in urban areas as the state has not enhanced the circle rates of land/ flat in last ten years or more. The MVR in different types of land in rural areas was effected in 2013 while in urban areas, the MVR was hiked for land in different areas in 2016. The other important reason playing a factor for an imminent hike in MVR in coming days is to gain higher revenue for the state coffers as the government is keen on raising revenue from different internal sources to compensate for the loss from the liquor ban. The state government's bill on committed expenditure ( salaries, pension, interest payments) has witnessed a heavy rise with Rs.1.33 lakh crore estimated as committed expenditure for this fiscal year ( 2026-27) whereas the revenue target from internal sources ( own tax) is Rs.65,800 crore. The registration department, which get revenue from stamp duties against property registrations, earned a revenue of Rs.8,400 crore in the last fiscal year 2025-26 as against the target of around Rs.8,000 crore. In this fiscal year, the revenue target of registration department is around Rs.8,250 crore, officials said, Interestingly, the state government's recent directive to put a restriction on sale, transfer, purchase of land in specific areas designated as places where 11 new townships are going to come up across the state has further compounded matters for the government as the restriction on sale. transfer of land has led to low registrations and a perceptible loss of revenue. The 11 new greenfield satellite townships with all modern amenities like drainage and sewerage, road , water connection are going to come up in towns like Patna ( areas like Bihta, Fatuha and Punpun), Sonepur, Gayaji, Darbhanga, Saharsa, Purnea, Muzaffarpur. Munger, Bhagalpur, Sitarmarhi and Chapra. However, registration department officials said that the new township project is limited to selected revenue villages where property transactions have been put on hold but otherwise, the registration of properties in the state is continuing. " The registration volume has not gone down or been affected by the restrictions. It is only a few revenue villages in the selected districts where restriction are in place," said another registration official, wishing anonymity. He said the registration of properties in April and May has been almost 15-20% higher than targeted. Meanwhile, secretary, prohibition , excise and registration department ( registration) Ajay Yadav said that the proposal of revising MVR was being looked into. "We are looking into the matter," he said....