The establishment of 11 proposed satellite townships in Bihar will be executed through land-pooling as part of the Town Planning Scheme (TPS), according to a senior official’s statement on Monday. On Wednesday, the state government sanctioned the development of these 11 greenfield satellite townships and instituted a moratorium on the sale, transfer, development, and construction activities within the designated zones.
In a conversation with reporters, Vinay Kumar, the principal secretary of the Urban Development and Housing Department (UDHD), stated, “We are committed to inclusivity in the development process. Our aim is to establish the townships through land-pooling under the TPS.
The government will return 55 percent of the developed land to the farmers.” The Town Planning Scheme, established under the Bihar Urban Planning and Development (BUPD) Act of 2012, serves as a legal land-pooling mechanism designed to convert irregular and undeveloped land into organized urban layouts without the need for compulsory land acquisition.
He emphasized that the townships will be meticulously planned, incorporating residential, commercial, and economic centers, which will facilitate a transition from agriculture-based communities to secondary and tertiary sectors, thereby generating employment and enhancing per capita income. Kumar asserted, “The value of land is anticipated to rise significantly, potentially increasing by at least 10 times, and in certain areas like Punpun, up to 20 times.”
For those who choose not to participate in land pooling, the government will provide options for negotiated purchases at market rates, along with Transfer of Development Rights (TDR), which aims to offer more than five times the land value, as stated by the principal secretary. He mentioned that the government is engaging in discussions with World Bank experts to ensure the planned development of the townships.
Focusing on the details of the TPS, Kumar noted that approximately 22 percent of the land will be designated for connectivity, 5 percent for green spaces and public utilities, 3 percent for economically disadvantaged sections, and 15 percent for infrastructure, which includes sewage treatment plants, water facilities, and electric grids.
The principal secretary asserted that the moratorium on the sale and purchase of land in specific areas is intended to control unregulated development and to guarantee that farmers receive equitable compensation for their land.
