Architect Hafeez Contractor makes a presentation of the proposed plans for the city at the Bihar State Housing Board headquarters in Patna on Friday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, March 2: Hafeez Contractor, touted as the star architect of the country, today came up with masterplans and models of his first projects for the state.

A mere glimpse of his models proves why he is considered the best in the business of architecture. His housing re-development projects for Bahadurpur Colony in Patna and satellite township development in Gaya can prove to be beyond the expectations of most residents of the state capital but he has done it in only 40 days.

The 61-year-old legendary architect, who has set landmarks across all spheres of real estate, ranging from residential townships to commercial projects in five countries, is one of the official empanelled architects of Bihar State Housing Board (BSHB). The Telegraph, in its issue dated January 21, had reported about Contractor signing the agreements with BSHB for redevelopment of sectors 3 and 6 of Bahadurpur Housing Board Colony in Patna and development of satellite townships in Gaya.

Contractor was in the state capital today to give a presentation of his projects. What would make people desperate for getting flats in any of residential societies developed according to his plans is the element of complete housing solution. “I believe that the concept of a house should not be confined to mere accommodation but it should provide a holistic environment, including facilities for leisure, shopping, health among other activities. That is the reason why I consider that residential facilities apart, amenities are also equally important in residential societies,” said Contractor.

Contractor has planned to develop 4,602 flats under the redevelopment project of Sector-3 of Bahadurpur Housing Colony of which 1,120 middle income group (MIG) flats would be reserved for rehabilitation of BSHB allottees and existing occupants and the remaining 3,482 would be sold. Similarly, Sector 6 would have 3,832 flats, including economically weaker group (EWS), lower income group (LIG) and higher income group (HIG) (rehabilitation flats – 1,632 + saleable flats – 2,200). The social infrastructure proposed in his housing redevelopment projects for Patna range from 5-star hotels, malls, schools, hospitals and office buildings among others.

“The re-development project of Bahadurpur Colony is going to change the face of old Patna. The proposal for this project along with the township development at Gaya has already been sent to the state cabinet and we would get the work on the project completed within 18 to 24 months after the corresponding approval,” said a senior BSHB official.

According to sources, the re-development projects at Bahadurpur Colony would be undertaken in four stages.

Buildings would be constructed on open land in the first stage, existing occupants would be relocated in the newly constructed ones in the second state, the old and dilapidated buildings would be demolished in the third stage and landscaping would be done in the fourth and final stage.