An under-construction building in Patna

The past two years saw a slump in the realty sector after an unprecedented boom since 2005 — the time Nitish Kumar-led JDU came to power.

Several long-pending and key policy instruments like the Master Plan and maiden building byelaws for the state were expected to come into force in early 2014. The year has almost come to an end but the government is still making the usual “very soon” claims to implement the norms.

In 2013-14, the noose tightened on developers and crackdowns were initiated on unregulated construction activities. The delay in implementation of policy instruments is showing repercussions on development.

The only positive development was the reduction in the minimum value register (base rate for fixing stamp duty of a property in a particular location) in Patna in June 2014.

Real(ty) story so far

The real estate sector, in the past decade, was dominated by mushrooming of apartments in the city. High-rises were constructed in even the narrowest bylanes.

Law slams brakes

The urban development and housing department, through a notification on December 13, 2012, imposed a ban on approval of maps for any multi-storeyed building over a height of 11m till the proposed Bihar Municipal Building Byelaws and Building Codes come into effect. A high court division bench on May 10 stated that till further order, no high-rise could be constructed beyond 11m in height unless the entire stretch and length of road abutting the building is uniformly and throughout 20ft in width.

Policy stalemate

BUILDING BYELAWS: The draft of the maiden building byelaws of Bihar aimed at regulating construction activities, was released by the urban development and housing department on December 14, 2013. Feedback from residents was accepted over the next fortnight. In a first-ever move, the proposed byelaws prohibited any new construction along roads less than 20ft wide (6m). No multi-storeyed structure was permitted on plot area less than 800sqm. The architect’s role in pass- ing the building map was abolished.

MASTER PLAN: Urban development and housing minister Samrat Choudhary released the draft of the proposed master plan for Patna on August 15 this year after a gap of 33 years.

PLANNING AUTHORITY: The urban development and housing department is yet to form the Patna Planning Authority. The authority would be responsible for implementation of the master plan and building byelaws, including approval of maps.

BUILDING MAP NOD: Since December 2012, hardly any new building plan or map was approved by Patna Municipal Corporation.

LOSSES: Sachin Chandra, state chairman of Builders’ Association of India has claimed that they have estimated losses to the tune of Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 crore across Bihar owing to impasse over policy measures.

AUTHORITYSPEAK: Urban development and housing secretary B. Rajender ruled out any “undue impasse” in finalisation of construction related policy instruments. On formation of Patna Planning Authority, Rajender said it is undergoing legal vetting procedure at present.