Patna: The Bihar state government has announced an ambitious plan to develop Greenfield townships in all nine divisional headquarters, including Patna, Muzaffarpur, and Bhagalpur. The project aims to enhance public infrastructure by creating new urban areas with better roads, parks, hospitals, and other civic amenities. Land acquisition for these townships is expected to commence in September.
According to officials from the Urban Development and Housing Department, the first phase of the Greenfield or Satellite Township initiative will target Patna, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Gaya, Darbhanga, Munger, Saran, Saharsa, and Purnia. Initial efforts will focus on one or two projects in each city, with plans to expand further. To oversee the implementation, a committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the Development Commissioner. The Principal Secretary of the Urban Development and Housing Department serves as the Member Secretary, with principal secretaries from the Revenue and Land Reforms Department, Road Construction Department, and Industry Department as members. Additionally, a team of officers has been constituted in all nine divisional headquarters.
A preliminary meeting regarding the Greenfield Township project was held in July, where a presentation on the initiative was shown. Another meeting is scheduled for August to finalize the site selection. In Patna, potential locations include Bihta, Punpun, or Sampatchak. Once sites are selected, a comprehensive plan will be developed, and a Planning Regulatory body will be established to ensure systematic implementation and monitoring.
Each Greenfield township will span approximately one to two thousand acres in the selected cities. The state government will acquire only 10% of the total land required for the townships. This acquired land will be used to create a network of roads of varying widths and to develop essential civic amenities such as parks, schools, hospitals, and drainage systems.
The government plans to auction the developed land to recover the project expenditure. At the time of land acquisition, plots located within 50 to 100 meters of the main roads will be acquired as necessary. As infrastructure develops and the value of the land increases, the state will auction the acquired plots, generating revenue. The proposal also includes marking a buffer zone around the township plots where construction will be temporarily banned to control development and maintain planned growth.
This initiative marks a significant step towards modernizing Bihar’s urban infrastructure and improving the quality of life for its residents. The development of Greenfield townships is expected to provide a substantial boost to the state’s economy and set a benchmark for future urban planning projects.
