Patna: The state govt is exploring alternative financing models and asset monetisation to fund urban infrastructure projects and make urban local bodies financially self-reliant, urban development and housing minister Nitish Mishra said on Thursday.Stressing the need to reduce dependence on conventional funding sources, he said municipal bodies must improve asset utilisation and tap new revenue streams to strengthen their finances.He said the state would leverage technology and GIS-based mapping to support urban planning, while ensuring that development plans are tailored to the specific needs of individual cities rather than following a uniform approach.Addressing the second day of a workshop on “SustainablePlanningforTownsinBihar:UnderstandingtheProcessandAddressingtheChallenges”, Mishra said urban development should go beyond roads, streetlights and sanitation.The workshop focused on spatial planning for city economic regions, the Urban Credit Framework (UCF), Hudco’s role in implementing master plans and alternative financing mechanisms for urban projects.Hudco executive director Akshay Sen highlighted the need for alternative financing and modern financial models, saying urban projects should be evaluated not only on construction costs but also on long-term financial viability and operational sustainability.Participants also discussed the use of GIS, data integration, radar technology, AMRUT 2.0 and NUDM in urban planning. Officials said GIS-based planning would help integrate data on land use, roads, drainage networks, population and public facilities, enabling more effective planning and future expansion of urban areas.Senior officials, city planners and representatives of urban local bodies attended the workshop.
