Patna: Bihar’s Urban Development and Housing Department organised a workshop on sustainable urban planning in Patna on September 2, focusing on master plans, technology-driven planning and strategies to make the state’s towns more inclusive, resilient and economically productive.
The workshop, titled “Sustainable Planning for Towns in Bihar: Understanding the Process and Addressing the Challenges”, was held at the Adhiveshan Bhawan auditorium in collaboration with the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO). Urban Development and Housing Minister Nitish Mishra presided over the session.
Mishra said urban development should extend beyond housing and civic amenities, with well-planned cities serving as centres of investment, employment and economic activity.
“Today’s planning will determine the character of Bihar’s cities tomorrow,” Mishra said, stressing the need for long-term planning and effective implementation.
Focus On Planned Urban Growth
Mishra said Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has a vision of developing Bihar’s towns in phases as major centres of development and economic activity.
He urged officials to use the workshop to strengthen their understanding of urban planning rather than treat it as an academic exercise. He also called for greater interaction between state officials, urban planners and HUDCO experts to share experience and best practices.
Mishra said decisions taken by the present generation would influence the quality and character of cities for future generations.
43 Cities To Get Master Plans
Urban Development and Housing Department Principal Secretary Vinay Kumar said the state was promoting modern technologies and GIS-based planning to support evidence-based urban development.
According to Kumar, officials are being trained to prepare master plans that take into account demographic, economic and spatial data while also prioritising the conservation of natural resources.
He said master plans are currently being prepared for 43 cities in Bihar, while work is also underway to develop 12 new satellite townships.
Kumar said an agreement for a line of credit worth Rs 1 lakh crore had been signed with HUDCO for the planned development initiatives.
Climate Resilience And Urban Infrastructure
HUDCO Chairman Sanjay Kulshreshtha said India’s urban population is expected to nearly double to about 800 million by 2040, making planned and resilient urban development increasingly important.
He said future urban expansion must account for climate change and disaster risks. He also highlighted schemes including the Swachh Bharat Mission, AMRUT, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-2 and the Urban Challenge Fund as potential drivers of improvements in sanitation, water supply, sewerage and other basic services.
Need For City-Specific Master Plans
DDA Vice Chairman N. Shravan Kumar said Bihar remained among the least urbanised states according to the 2011 Census, but argued that planned urbanisation would be important for economic growth and employment.
Citing Delhi and Jamshedpur, Kumar said retrofitting cities after unplanned development can be expensive and difficult. He stressed that planning should therefore begin before large-scale urban expansion takes place.
The workshop discussed the legal framework for master plans, assessment of existing urban conditions, projections for future development and the collection and analysis of demographic, economic and spatial data.
Participants also discussed the preparation of land-use maps and town planning schemes, with officials emphasising that development plans should reflect the specific characteristics and challenges of individual towns.
Technology And AI In Urban Planning
The workshop also examined the potential use of technology and artificial intelligence in urban planning.
Discussions focused on developing inclusive and responsive plans based on local needs, improving implementation of master-plan proposals and ensuring compliance with approved planning frameworks.
