The proposed master plan for Patna has made provisions for around 50 urban villages along the periphery of the city.

In urban planning, these villages are promoted with the motive to achieve double targets — to preserve the rural livelihood as well as cater to the needs of population of urban areas as well.

Experts in urban development and housing department claimed that there are already villages around Sampatchak, Gaurichak, Daniawan and Maner among others which cannot be ascribed to the urban area but are de-facto urban villages at present.

Urban villages are agricultural buffer zones around the main town. The urban villages are characterised by low-density residential area with majority of land having put to agriculture use.

Construction activities in these urban villages are restricted to farm houses (non-commercial nature), brick kilns, parks and cultural buildings, utility buildings.

The only commercial buildings permitted in these villages are limited to establishments for storage of farm products, services and repairs for farming instruments among other activities. The development of these urban villages would ensure supply of essential agricultural products to the local market, thus contributing in making the main city area self-dependent, added the official.

Hi-tech town

Urbanised villages apart, the proposed master plan has also suggested development of two satellite townships —Naubatpur and Bihta as a part of Patna plan area. These satellite townships would be independent from the main city.

The urban population in Bihar is growing at a rate 0.8 per cent per year and thus there is a need of expansion of the existing urban areas and futuristic regulations for utilising such urban areas in the most sustainable way.

Friday expectation

Sources in the urban development and housing department claimed that the proposed master plan is expected to be put in the public domain in the next two to three days.

Final touches are being given to the draft of the master plan, which have been given in-principal approval by the state government. Nodal agencies and officers would be appointed by the department for the purpose of getting feedback from people.

Besides, various platforms, including hoardings/posters and social media, would also be used to get more and more feedback from the residents, said the officer of the department.

Much of provisions envisaged by the proposed master plan would be implemented with the support of the proposed Bihar Municipal Building Bye-laws. The bye-laws are aimed at regulating building construction and development activities in terms of land use, coverage (land used for construction), floor area ratio (FAR), open space, height, number of storeys and parking standards among others

Two operational airports

The urban development and housing department minister Samrat Chaudhary on Wednesday said Patna would have two operational airports with the enactment of the proposed master plan. The upcoming master plan has suggested development of a new airport at Dumri, near Punpun. “The new airport would be used for operation of bigger aircraft and the existing airport would be used for comparatively smaller aircraft. This has been suggested because of the short runway at the existing airport,” said Chaudhary.