Patna: The state govt on Saturday presented the draft Pataliputra Greenfield Satellite Township Development Plan 2047, proposing a new urban growth centre across nearly 81,730 acres and 273 villages around Patna, with a focus on integrated infrastructure, employment generation and public participation.The proposed township will cover parts of nine blocks — Punpun, Naubatpur, Masaurhi, Fatuha, Sampatchak, Patna Rural, Dhanarua, Daniyawan and Phulwarisharif. It will also include parts of Naubatpur Nagar Panchayat and the entire Punpun Nagar Panchayat. A 3,008-acre core area comprising 19 villages in Punpun has been identified for the project.The urban development and housing department on Saturday held a stakeholder consultation at Urja Auditorium to discuss the draft Pataliputra Greenfield Satellite Township Development Plan 2047. The meeting was chaired by urban development and housing minister Nitish Mishra and attended by senior officials, urban planners, industry representatives, bankers and professional bodies.Mishra said the govt would engage directly with farmers and landowners whose properties fall within the proposed township, and their suggestions and concerns would be taken into account as the project advances.“The township is being conceived as more than an extension of Patna. The aim is to create a complete urban ecosystem with housing, employment hubs, educational and healthcare institutions, markets, roads, public transport, parks, water supply, sewerage and drainage infrastructure,” the minister said.The master plan also envisages transit-oriented development, mixed land use, and walking and cycling infrastructure to reduce dependence on private vehicles. Green corridors, community parks, sports facilities and the preservation of water bodies have also been incorporated into the proposed framework.Officials said land pooling, land readjustment and other legally permissible mechanisms could be explored to involve landowners in the development process while safeguarding the interests of farmers, small landholders and local communities.Representatives of CREDAI Bihar, Bihar Industries Association, Bihar Chamber of Commerce, State Level Bankers’ Committee, ITPI, IIA and IEI participated in the consultation. Department officials said stakeholder suggestions and objections would be examined before the plan is finalised.The proposed township is expected to facilitate the planned expansion of Patna while creating new opportunities for investment, employment and improved public services. The government aims to develop it as an inclusive, sustainable and economically vibrant urban centre.Meanwhile, landowners staged a protest, alleging that despite plans to include their land in the proposed township, they were not consulted during the preparation of the development plan.At the meeting, they raised concerns over land acquisition, compensation provisions and their role in the proposed development. The landowners argued that the views and suggestions of local farmers and stakeholders should have been sought before drafting such a large-scale township plan.
