The government has also lifted restrictions on the sale and transfer of land in the areas covered by the two draft plans. It is preparing to remove similar restrictions in six more township areas, according to Urban Development and Housing Minister Nitish Mishra.
The project was announced at the first Cabinet meeting of Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary’s government on April 22, 2026. Initially, satellite townships were proposed near 11 cities, with Dehri subsequently added to take the total to 12.
The government has entered into an agreement with the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) involving ₹1 lakh crore and engaged the Centre for Research and Development of Urban and Regional Planning (CRDF) to prepare the master plans. However, large-scale ground-level implementation has yet to begin, and the proposed land acquisition has triggered protests in parts of the state.
Draft Plans for Pataliputra and Magadh Townships Released
The proposed Pataliputra Township is planned across approximately 81,730 acres, including a core area of 3,008 acres covering 19 villages in Punpun block.
The draft plan has been placed in the public domain, and CRDF experts are conducting surveys. The government has not yet started land acquisition for the project.
Initially, restrictions were imposed on land transactions in the proposed township area. However, following protests by farmers, the government lifted the restrictions on buying and selling land. Construction in the area will still require the relevant government approvals, including consultation with the department regarding building plans.
The proposed Magadh Satellite Township in Gayaji will cover 22,526 acres, equivalent to approximately 9,116 hectares. Its draft master plan, titled Magadh Township 2047, was released in the first week of October. Residents have been given two months to submit objections and suggestions.
Restrictions on land sales, purchases and transfers in the proposed Magadh Township area have also been lifted.
Speaking about the two projects, Urban Development and Housing Minister Nitish Mishra said the department would respond to the objections received from the public and was working on incorporating the necessary inputs. Town planners have been engaged for the process.
Regarding Pataliputra Township, Mishra said land transactions had been permitted again, but construction would require consultation with the department on matters such as building plans.
Land Transaction Restrictions to Be Lifted in Six More Township Areas
Draft plans for the remaining 10 proposed townships are being prepared. The government intends to publish these plans for public consultation and invite objections before finalising them.
At present, restrictions on the sale and purchase of land remain in these areas. People seeking to sell land for essential reasons must apply to the headquarters of the Bihar State Housing Board in Patna.
Mishra said the government was preparing to lift the restrictions in six more township areas, after which it would consider the remaining locations.
He added that the government aimed to release the draft plans for all 12 townships before March 2027.
Farmers Protest Proposed Land Acquisition
The government plans to acquire 7,928 acres in the first phase for developing satellite townships in Patna, Muzaffarpur, Gayaji and Sonepur.
The proposed acquisition has triggered protests in Punpun, where farmers have opposed the inclusion of their land in Pataliputra Township. Farmer organisations are seeking to expand the protests, raising concerns about compensation, land ownership and the impact of urban development on rural communities.
Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait also visited Patna recently and raised questions about the proposed land acquisition.
Dinesh Singh, Bihar in-charge of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Tikait faction), criticised the township plan, arguing that it would displace villagers and benefit corporate interests at the expense of farmers.
“We need smart villages, not smart townships,” Singh said, alleging that farmers’ land could be taken away at inadequate compensation.
He also questioned the reported proposal under which 45% of the land would not receive compensation. Referring to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, Singh argued that farmers should receive compensation based on the applicable legal provisions.
The compensation mechanism and the applicability of the 2013 law to the proposed township model remain key issues in the dispute.
Farmers’ Group Claims to Have Submitted 19,000 Objections
Rajesh Kumar, associated with the Bhoomi Bachao Kisan Sangharsh Samiti in Punpun, said farmers had submitted more than 19,000 objection applications against the proposed land acquisition.
He showed copies of objection letters submitted to the government and said the submissions were made under the leadership of a farmers’ group opposing the project.
The number of applications and their status are yet to be independently verified.
Government Plans Awareness Campaign to Address Concerns
The state government plans to launch an awareness campaign to explain the satellite township programme to farmers and landowners, amid confusion over land acquisition, compensation and the proposed land-pooling mechanism.
Mishra said officials would reach out to people at the panchayat level and explain how land would be obtained and how the proposed development model would work.
He said the government would not forcibly take anyone’s land and would consider changes wherever necessary. He also said the government would ensure that people were not left landless.
According to Mishra, an Ahmedabad-based company is preparing the plan, and the proposed model would provide landowners with a 55% share of the developed land through land pooling.
The government’s outreach programme is expected to focus on explaining the proposed arrangement and addressing concerns over compensation and land ownership.
For now, the satellite township initiative remains at the planning and consultation stage in the two areas where draft plans have been released. The response to public objections, the government’s decisions on land-pooling provisions and the progress of the remaining master plans are likely to shape the next phase of the programme.
