Patna, March 14: The return of the natives owing to better law and order situation in Bihar capital in the past few years, coupled with people’s wish to stay in select pockets, have pushed the house rents in the upscale localities almost beyond the reach of the middle-class people.

Most of the professionals returning to their hometown are finding the rents as high as in any metro city. Some felt the pocket pinch in the hometown was more than the towns they were in far away from home.

While house owners are laughing all the way to banks, many people with modest income just cannot stop sulking.

Ashok Das, an employee with a telecom major, decided, to return to Patna with his family this January after a five-year stint in Ahmedabad, as his company offered him a transfer to his home state as zonal sales manager.

Das grabbed the opportunity with both hands assuming he would lead a better life in Patna, as the accommodation cost would be much cheaper. But his smile did not last long.

After weeks of negotiations with property dealers and flat owners, he settled for a 2 BHK (two bedrooms, hall, kitchen) flat in Boring Canal Road area. Rent? Rs 16,000 a month. Power and maintenance bills extra.

“When I told property dealers that I wanted to put up in a prime location and my budget was Rs 6,000-8000 they simply told me ‘impossible’. I first thought they were conning me as I had lived outside the state for the past several years. After I went around myself for weeks, I realised things had changed drastically. As I wanted to stay in Boring Road area, I agreed to spend close to Rs 20,000 a month,” Ashok said with a wry smile.

It is natural for people like Ashok, who have been out of the town for a while, to be taken aback by the escalation in the rent. Even the local residents are amazed at the drastic rise.

Mihir Verma, a bank employee, said: “I wanted to stay somewhere close to Gandhi Maidan as my office is nearby. But as I could not get a flat there within my budget I had to move to Jagdeo Path where I am paying Rs 3,500 per month for a 2 BHK accommodation. Even as I have to commute 16km daily, I have little choice.”

Property dealers believe the astronomical hike has been a result of increasing property prices and a huge demand. “It has all happened in the past three-four years. The monthly rental for a 1,500sqft has gone up to Rs 25,000 per month now. Be it apartments or independent houses, the monthly rentals have gone up exceptionally. In areas like Boring Road, Pataliputra Colony, Kidwaipuri, Nageshwar Colony, Anandpuri and Krishnanagar, one has to pay at least Rs 12,000-15,000 for a 1,200sqft flat. For independent houses, the rates are slightly low but even there the hike has been up to 150-200 per cent. But most people are willing to pay as much and therefore, a change in scenario is unlikely in the near future,” said Iqbaal Hassan, a property dealer near Gandhi Maidan.

Real estate dealer Pankaj Singh echoed Hassan. “It has all happened so soon that we’re not being able to justify it. I just got a family shifted to a flat in Nala Road locality. The area is not too upscale. Even then the landlords are charging as much as Rs 8,000-12,000 per month. The rates are even higher in apartments as they come with added advantages and most people nowadays prefer staying in them,” he said.

The problem, believe property pundits, is that most of the people want to stay in few select parts of the city and do not want to go to outer areas. “In areas like Bailey Road, Patna-Gaya road, Ashok Nagar, the rent is still reasonable but most renters want to stay in the heart of the town. With limited availability of property in those pockets, rents are bound to rise,” Hassan added.