Patna, Nov. 11: Bihar State Housing Board (BSHB) has good news for residents of its colonies in Bahadurpur and Lohia Nagar in Kankerbagh. They can shift to new and modern flats in two years.

BSHB will construct the new multi-storeyed buildings, comprising a total of 4,500 new flats, in the open spaces of the two colonies, without disturbing the present accommodation of the residents. The projects have a deadline of 18-24 months.

The silver lining to the news is that they need not vacate their present flats till the new ones are ready for occupation. The added bonus would be that the residents would get flats of 1,000sqft superbuilt area in place of the flats measuring 300-600sqft that they occupy at present.

BSHB sources said the plan for the projects at the two societies have been sent to the cabinet for seeking its approval. Once approved, construction work would start at both the places in January next year.

“BSHB has chalked plans to give a facelift to the Bahadurpur and Lohianagar housing board colonies. The existing flats in Bahadurpur are permanent lease flats and those at Lohia Nagar are rental flats. In the first phase, 1,500 new flats would be constructed in Sector 5 of Bahadurpur Colony and finishing touches would be given to 64 existing HIG flats (under construction) in Sector 6 and 192 existing MIG flats in Sector 7 (under construction) in the same society. Moreover, a total of 3,000 new flats would be developed in Lohia Nagar. None of the present residents would be displaced during the construction period, as the new flats would be constructed in open areas at both the places and the existing buildings would be demolished only after the existing occupants are shifted to the new flats,” said a senior BSHB official.

BSHB sources said Sector-5 of Bahadurpur Housing Board Colony would boast of 20 new towers comprising 1,500 flats built across 8.56 acres.

“The new flats at Sector 5 would be developed under a greenfield project, which would have 70 per cent of the total area open, schools, mini market, commercial complex and community centres and other amenities. Moreover, the new flats would be designed by leading architects and interior designers, including Hafeez Contractor, Sanjay Joshi and Sanjay Puri, and be aesthetically beautiful. Similar architectural support has been taken for finalising the existing underconstruction flats in sectors 6 and 7,” said the official.

Apart from Bahadurpur, 3,000 ultra-modern flats would be constructed for 928 rental allottees of BSHB residing at Lohia Nagar Housing Board Colony, built over 30 acres. The accommodation would be given on permanent lease basis.

“Multi-storeyed buildings comprising 3,000 flats would be built in open areas of Lohia Nagar Housing Board Colony. Thus, the existing rental allottees can reside in their present accommodation till the new flats are available for them. The allottees would be offered permanent allotment of the new flats at minimal charges. The rest of the new flats at Lohianagar would either be auctioned off or sold through lottery system later,” said the official.