Patna: The Bihar government is preparing a major overhaul of urban building regulations, with a proposal to increase the floor area ratio (FAR) in cities to accommodate rising housing demand.
Officials in the urban development department said the draft proposal, which is expected to be placed before the cabinet, seeks to significantly raise the permissible FAR from the current range of 2.5–3 to between 5.5 and 6.
If approved, the move would allow developers and landowners to construct taller buildings with more floor space, even on relatively small plots.
Authorities said the change is aimed at addressing rapid urbanisation and population growth, which have put pressure on housing and infrastructure in cities across the state.
The proposed policy also includes relaxation in setback norms for commercial properties, enabling developers to use up to 60–70% of plot area for construction, compared with the earlier cap of around 40%.
Officials said the revisions would make it easier to build larger residential units and commercial complexes, particularly in densely populated urban areas where land availability is limited and prices are rising.
The government believes the changes could boost real estate development, improve housing supply and support economic activity in urban centres.
If cleared, the policy is expected to reshape construction patterns in Bihar’s cities, allowing more efficient use of land while responding to growing demand for housing and commercial space.
