Patna: The mines and geology department expects to generate an additional Rs 200-250 crore in revenue during the remaining nine months of the current financial year through the inter-state transit pass (ISTP) system introduced for heavy vehicles carrying minor minerals into Bihar from other states, minister Pramod Kumar said on Thursday.Addressing reporters at his office, Kumar said the ISTP was implemented on June 10 as part of the department’s additional resource mobilisation (ARM) initiative to boost revenue collection.He said around 19,000 vehicles have been registered on the department’s portal, of which nearly 4,000 enter Bihar from states such as Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.The vehicles transport minor minerals including stone, stone chips, morrum and stone dust. The ISTP does not apply to vehicles carrying major minerals such as coal and fly ash. “Several states have already implemented the ISTP system, but Bihar had not done so earlier,” Kumar said, adding that Bihar has an adequate supply of sand mined within the state.According to the minister, the state has earned Rs 21.65 crore through ISTP collections since June 10, with average weekly revenue of about Rs 5.6 crore.Department secretary Avaneesh Kumar Singh and director of mines Maneesh Kumar Meena were also present.For 2026-27, the department has set a revenue target of Rs 5,000 crore, 25% higher than the previous fiscal year’s target. Kumar expressed confidence that the goal would be achieved.Highlighting the revenue trend, he said the department collected Rs 505.64 crore till June in the current fiscal, compared with Rs 409.62 crore during the corresponding period of 2025-26, registering an increase of Rs 95.64 crore.Kumar said stone mining has emerged as a major industry in Bihar. The department has identified 41 stone mining plots across the state, including nine in Gaya, one in Banka, 10 in Sheikhpura, 17 in Nawada, three in Aurangabad and four in Rohtas. Tenders for stone mining have already been issued in Nawada.On major minerals, he said the Centre has made 14 mineral blocks available for auction, including three allocated to Bihar. The Union mines ministry has successfully auctioned three blocks — the Chutiya Nauhatta and Pipradih Bhurwa glauconite blocks in Rohtas district, and a nickel, chromium and platinum group elements (PGE) block in Gaya district. The state government has separately auctioned the Bhora Kathra limestone block in Rohtas.
