First Phase of GIS-Based Masterplan for Bihar’s 25 Major Cities Nears Completion

Patna: The groundwork for the initial phase of Geographic Information System (GIS) based masterplans for 25 significant cities in Bihar, including Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Gaya, Biharsharif, Arrah, and Purnia, has been successfully concluded. Additionally, efforts are underway to finalize the masterplan for Rajgir’s planning area, with HUDCO spearheading the project, having completed work up to the second phase.

Santosh Kumar Mall, Principal Secretary of the Urban Development and Housing Department, chaired a review meeting to assess progress and issue directives for expediting pending tasks. The initiative aims to foster planned development in these urban centers, encompassing zoning delineations and digital mapping of each city.

Six agencies have been tasked with this project, structured to unfold across multiple phases. During the review, it was noted that all agencies have fulfilled their responsibilities in delivering the initial reports for the first phase. Concurrently, several agencies are engaged in advancing the subsequent phases. HUDCO, in particular, is set to convene a crucial meeting in Patna come March to accelerate the finalization of Rajgir’s masterplan.

Principal Secretary Mall underscored the importance of seamless data collection for the masterplan, instructing the Additional Secretary to liaise with District Magistrates to facilitate necessary support to agencies facing obstacles. Moreover, agencies encountering delays were called upon to provide explanations for the setbacks.

To streamline communication and oversight, departmental officials were tasked with forming dedicated WhatsApp groups with each agency involved in the masterplan preparation. These groups, inclusive of Principal Secretary Mall, Additional Secretary Sunil Kumar Yadav, and Special Duty Officer Prabhat Bhushan, will also include a representative from each agency. The Additional Secretary was further directed to conduct a comprehensive review of agency performance within the next 15 days, with the subsequent review meeting scheduled for March 21.