Patna: The Government of Bihar is preparing a sweeping reform of building construction rules, aiming to make the system simpler, more transparent and citizen-friendly by replacing imprisonment for bylaw violations with financial penalties and moving all related services online.
The proposed changes were discussed on Sunday at a town planning workshop organised by the Urban Development and Housing Department, Bihar at Taramandal Auditorium in Patna. The workshop brought together municipal officials, elected representatives, planners and technical experts.
Under the proposed amendments, violations of building bylaws will no longer attract jail sentences. Instead, offenders will face monetary penalties — a move officials said would provide relief to ordinary citizens, small property owners and builders. At the same time, services such as building plan approvals, land use change permissions and other town planning clearances will be made entirely digital across all municipal bodies.
The government has set a target of rolling out a faceless and online system from July 1. Officials said the state would use the central government’s digital portal to ensure a uniform system for construction-related services across Bihar.
Inaugurating the workshop, deputy chief minister and urban development minister Vijay Kumar Sinha said complex procedures had long caused unnecessary hardship for the public. “Simplifying rules and digitising services will ensure people get timely approvals, while also increasing transparency and curbing corruption,” he said.
Sinha said the government had already decided to develop 11 new townships in its first cabinet meeting, including nine divisional headquarters along with Sonpur and Sitamarhi. He added that the state aimed to position Bihar as a technology hub of eastern India, with plans under consideration for a defence corridor and a semiconductor unit.
Highlighting Bihar’s urbanisation challenge, the deputy chief minister said about 36% of India’s population now lives in urban areas, compared with just 16.6% in Bihar. To accelerate urban growth, he said, the government was focusing on strengthening infrastructure, education, healthcare and law and order.
The principal secretary of the urban development and housing department, Vinay Kumar, said the proposed bylaw changes would directly benefit citizens by making approvals simpler, time-bound and transparent.
Those present at the workshop included Mayor Sita Sahu, departmental secretary Sandeep Kumar Pudkalkatti, Patna divisional commissioner Animesh Parashar, along with senior officials, municipal representatives and urban planning experts.
