Patna: The Bihar government is revisiting its land pooling strategy to facilitate land procurement for upcoming mega road and expressway projects, officials in the Road Construction Department said.
The move comes as the state prepares to roll out several large-scale infrastructure projects under the “Saat Nishchay-3” programme.
Shift From Traditional Land Acquisition
Under the proposed system, land required for road construction will not be acquired outright through conventional compensation-based methods.
Instead, authorities plan to adopt a land pooling model, under which landowners contribute a portion of their land for infrastructure development while retaining ownership of the remaining area.
Officials said the department will develop land along the project alignment, leading to a potential increase in its market value.
Benefits For Landowners
Under the model, only the land required for the road will be utilised, while the remaining portion will be returned to the original owners after development.
Landowners will also receive monetary compensation for the portion of land used, along with the benefit of enhanced land value due to improved infrastructure.
Officials said the approach could offer higher long-term returns compared with one-time compensation payouts.
Push For Expressways And Corridors
The government is planning to construct multiple expressways and new road corridors across districts, requiring substantial land.
Authorities are exploring whether land pooling can be used to meet these requirements more efficiently and with fewer disputes.
Financing Through Hybrid Model
The Road Construction Department has also been adopting the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) to finance road projects.
Under HAM, the government funds 40% of the project cost during construction, while private developers invest the remaining 60% and recover their investment over time through tolls or other revenue streams.
Renewed Approach
Officials said earlier attempts at implementing land pooling did not gain traction, but the model is now being reconsidered with a revised framework.
The government expects that combining land pooling with modern financing models could accelerate infrastructure development while ensuring fair outcomes for landowners.
