Patna, Oct. 4: With residential rates in the state capital fast catching up with those in Gurgaon, Surat and Pune, the Bihar State Housing Board (BSHB) is planning to set up satellite townships to provide housing facilities at affordable prices.

The proposed townships would have 20 per cent of 1,500 dwellings reserved for economically weaker sections, who would also be provided subsidy for availing these flats.

To promote holistic urban growth in the state, BSHB has planned to develop satellite townships on the outskirts of four major cities.

With highrise buildings, these mini townships would be developed as self-sustained urban centres under public-private partnership mode.

“BSHB would develop satellite townships on the outskirts of four big cities in the state — Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur and Bhagalpur. These townships would be equipped with common facilities, including schools, health centres, banks and community centres among others. Efforts would be made to develop these townships as ultra-modern urban centres through participation of renowned developers from across the country. Moreover, economically weaker sections of the society would be given due preference as 20 per cent of the housing property in these townships would be reserved for them,” said a senior official of BSHB on condition of anonymity.

According to sources, the proposed townships would have a minimum of 1,500 flats, with vertical growth up to 15 storeys.

They would be designed on “green building” model and hence, it would be mandatory to leave at least 40 per cent green area.

Sources said that BSHB is at present contemplating one such scheme for developing satellite township for Gaya with 10,000 flats, including EWS, lower-income group (LIG), middle-income group (MIG) and higher-income group (HIG) category flats.

Sources added that while the housing board would be providing civic utilities such as water and drainage network among other facilities at these townships but the overall management and maintenance would be done by co-operative societies to be formed by the BSHB.

Moreover, the townships would be equipped with all necessary common facilities, including mini market, community centres, banks, schools, health centres and employment counselling centres for economically weaker sections among others.

BSHB sources also informed that the beneficiaries would be provided subsidy for economically weaker sections — LIG flats. The MIG, HIG flats would also be provided at affordable rates. Moreover, bank finance facilities would also be offered by BSHB.