Bihar's Fancy Number Auction: A Rs 6 Crore Revenue Surprise

The Bihar government generated approximately Rs 6 crore in revenue by auctioning fancy vehicle registration numbers. Over 4,000 participants opted for these numbers via an online auction. Patna led the revenue intake. Special fees apply to numbers categorized into five groups, with group A in high demand.

The Bihar government has seen an unexpected revenue boost, collecting around Rs 6 crore from fancy vehicle registration numbers in a span of just two months, confirmed Transport Minister Sharwan Kumar on Saturday.

A total of 4,117 vehicle owners participated in the online auction conducted from December 1, 2025, to February 13, 2026, choosing their preferred vehicle registration numbers. The auction, conducted on the state's transport department website, allowed participants to bid for their choice.

Patna city emerged as the highest contributor, spending Rs 2.46 crore, while Khagaria and Sheohar reported minimal participation. The most coveted numbers belonged to Group A, incurring a fee of Rs 1 lakh for non-transport vehicles. This initiative marks the first endeavor by the department to generate such significant revenue via e-auction.

(With inputs from agencies.)