Patna, Oct. 19: In a bid to ease negative population externalities or congestion in many areas of the city, the state government is planning to rejig the floor area ratio (FAR).

At present, the permissible FAR in the city varies from 1 to 3.5. But the government is planning to change its limit for different localities in the new building byelaws being drafted for Patna Master Plan 2021.

FAR is the ratio of the total floor area of a building and the size of the land. If the FAR of a certain locality is 2, the maximum floor area of buildings there can be twice the area of the plot on which it is constructed.

A source in the state urban development department told The Telegraph: “In general terms, high FAR for a given area implies that higher buildings can be constructed on a plot compared to other areas where the permissible FAR is lower. This is fixed according to population needs of a particular area. But as high FAR results in high population density in a particular area, it should be revised from time to time. So, the changes are being proposed.”

The source said: “The areas where highest FAR is permitted at present could be scaled down and vice versa. This is being done to stabilise the population density across the city and to maintain equitable distribution of demography,” said the source.

Members of Builders’ Association of India (BAI), Patna chapter, said the government should be very cautious with the proposed building byelaws, as reduction in FAR would result in further rise in the prices of flats in apartment complexes.

“While the government is the supreme authority to decide on matters like these and we cannot challenge its decision, it should act sensibly. If they reduce FAR for prime localities, it will further push up the flat prices. Therefore, they should strike a right balance,” said Sachin Chandra, the president of BAI, Patna.

He added that the government should have invited bodies like BAI and other stakeholders for discussion over such an important issue.

“While we were called to a meeting on the new clauses of the Building Byelaws draft, this particular issue (FAR) was not brought up for discussion. Our opinions should have definitely been taken,” Chandra added.

According to the source in the state government, there would be no change in the provision of the minimum land (30-foot at present) required for building multi-storeyed buildings.

“No apartment complexes or any multi-storeyed building can be erected along roads less than 30 feet wide. No change is proposed in this clause of the building byelaws either,” the source said.