Patna: Packaged drinking water has become more expensive in the city after Bisleri, which dominates Patna’s bulk water segment, revised the prices of its 5-litre, 10-litre and 20-litre packs. The company has attributed the increase to the rising cost of imported petroleum-based raw materials and plastic packaging amid continuing global conflicts.The price revision is expected to affect offices, hostels and PG accommodations that depend heavily on larger packs, although smaller retail bottles remain unaffected for now. In Patna, Bisleri and Bailey are the only major brands supplying larger jars, while Kinley and Aquafina largely operate in the smaller bottled-water segment.Under the revised rates, the price of a 5-litre Bisleri pack has increased from Rs 65 to Rs 70, while the 10-litre pack now costs Rs 125 instead of Rs 115. The price of a 20-litre refill has gone up from Rs 90 to Rs 100. Dealers said the revised rates came into effect a few days ago.“The hike has not affected sales so far because the customer base for these products remains largely unchanged,” said Vivek, a Bisleri distributor in Patna. He explained that the prices of the 5-litre and 10-litre packs include the cost of the plastic containers, whereas customers only pay for the water in the case of 20-litre refills, as the reusable jars are returned at the time of replacement.According to Rajnikant Rao, a senior official associated with water distribution in Patna, the cost of raw materials has risen by nearly 40%-45% over the past few years.“The plastic used for packaging cartons, which earlier cost around Rs 120 per kg, is now priced at more than Rs 200 per kg. Most of these petroleum-based products are imported, and higher transportation costs, taxes and global supply disruptions linked to ongoing conflicts have pushed up manufacturing costs,” he said.An accountant with a packaged-water distribution company in Patna City said manufacturers could not impose a steep increase all at once and had instead opted for a phased revision.“The increase has been introduced gradually, beginning with the larger packs. Smaller bottles of 1 litre and 2 litres have not been revised yet. Since competing brands have also increased prices across the country, Bihar has followed the market trend. Local brands, however, have not raised their prices so far,” he said.The increase is likely to add to household as well as institutional expenses, particularly for offices and students who rely on bulk supplies.“Our office consumes around four to five 20-litre jars every day. A Rs 10 increase per jar may appear small, but over a month it translates into a noticeable rise in operating expenses,” said Bhushan Kumar, an accounts executive at a corporate office in Patna.Priya Kumari, a postgraduate student staying in a PG accommodation near Boring Road, said students sharing accommodation would also feel the pinch.“We order several 20-litre jars every month. With rent, food and transport already becoming expensive, even this increase adds to our monthly budget,” she said.Dealers said that although prices of bulk packs have been revised, retail bottles, including 500 ml, 1-litre and 2-litre variants, continue to be sold at existing rates in Patna. However, they did not rule out further revisions if input costs remain high.