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 Architect Hafeez Contractor: Patna has the potential to be a beautiful city Posted on 23 Jan, 2012 by admin in Vihara 

New city to reclaim old - PIYUSH KUMAR TRIPATHI IN PATNA

Having officially stepped on the road to Bihar¶s development, architect Hafeez Contractor feels Patna can join the

league of the most beautiful cities across the globe through meticulous planning.Rating the Bihar capital as a tier-III

city in the country at present with ³poor´ development, architect Hafeez Contractor sketched a bright future for the

riverside city with a meticulous planning mantra.

³I will rate Patna as a tier-III city of India, with comparatively poor development. But with the enormous potential,

including its riverside location, clearly identified existing urban areas and abundant water resources, Patna can sure

 join the league of the most beautiful cities across the globe, if meticulously planned steps are undertaken,´ said

Contractor.

Criss-crossing the city streets while visiting his project sites at Bahadurpur and near Saguna More on Thursday,

Contractor felt the need of an immediate solution to the garbage menace.

He said: ³There seems to be a big problem in sanitation, including sewage and drainage, as well as garbage

management. Many drains along the roadside were open. I could also see garbage heaped on roads at several

places. The city needs to get rid of such sanitation problems prior to expansion of its infrastructure. Clean city is the

first requirement of citizens.´

The 61-year-old legendary architect, who has set landmarks across all spheres of real estate, ranging from residential

townships to commercial projects in five countries, told The Telegraph that Patna needs a new city like most other 

towns in the country.

Negating the idea of satellite townships, he said the outer periphery of the city should be regenerated as high

population density area along with green areas.

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³A new city must be created for Patna. But considering the financial status of the masses here and the constraint in

mobility, satellite townships would not be a feasible solution. Thus, the new city should be developed by regenerating

the outer periphery of the city.´

He said: ³The existing urban areas of the Patna have grown in a semi-circular shape with river Ganga as its base. I

suggest that the farm area along the southern periphery of the city should be developed as the new city. This new city

should be spread on an area measuring not more than 8 to 10sqkm with new infrastructure, mass transit system, new

roads and even new taxation norms to sustain the revenue requirements. First, a road-cum-urban rail corridor 

resembling the same semi-circular shape of the existing urban areas of the city should be developed a few kilometres

beyond the periphery of the current city. This road and rail corridor should connect to a four-lane expressway along

the riverbanks of Ganga on the northern side of the present city. Also, around four to five main wide roads (alike

Bailey Road) should be developed. They will connect the new city with the existing urban areas of Patna and the

expressway along the Ganga.´

Contractor suggested the new city area should be used as high population density area. ³As the new city would be

developed on farmlands, ample green areas should be preserved here to provide the oxygen buffer to both the

existing and the new city. The new city should be developed as a high population density area with the focus on

shifting majority of the population load of the existing city there.´

Regeneration of the eastern periphery as a new city apart, Contractor suggested development of high-income group

residential societies on the other side of river Ganga (Hajipur and Sonepur), where the two Ganga bridges (Gandhi

Setu and the upcoming rail-cum-road bridge) culminate.

³Apart from Gandhi Setu, I have heard about a new Ganga rail-cum-road bridge connecting north-western corner of 

Patna with Sonepur. I suggest developing two large-scale high-income group residential societies at the other side of 

the Ganga, where both these bridges culminate. Those areas would observe development after the new bridge

becomes operational and the riverside atmosphere would also attract people there,´ said Contractor.

³It is only after the development of the new city and high-income group riverside residential societies that the

regeneration of the existing urban areas can take place. Regeneration of the city does not necessarily meanreclamation of old structures and infrastructure. The heritage structures and the significant bylanes can definitely be

preserved while reclaiming the rest of the city. In order to sustain the burgeoning housing requirement amid land

scarcity, redevelopment in housing sector is the need of the hour. This redevelopment can be done by expansion of 

the existing buildings horizontally as well as vertically,´ Contractor said

The city's North Gandhi Maidan stretch is likely to wear a different look in the near future

with a world-class international convention centre slated to come up there. Awaiting a final

go-ahead from the CM, this 250-crore centre will be a major boost to cultural, recreational

and business activities in the state.

Spread over 11 acres, this magnificent structure will come up at the site which at present

houses the residences of city SP and district judge, MLA's bungalow along with the division

office of the building construction department. All these buildings will be demolished in

phases and in their place will come up a grand structure with a capacity to accommodate

5,000 people at a time. This riverside centre will be a fusion of both modern and traditional

Buddhist architectural features.

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In the final stage of conceptualisation, the centre will have it all - a plenary hall, cultural and

media centres, VIP lounge, an entertainment corner, convention zone, concourse area with

lifestyle shopping and a food court - an all-round entertainment for people of all hues and

backgrounds.

Three meeting halls with a seating capacity of around 50 to 300 will be constructed forbusiness and official meetings. There will be enough space to hold an event like book fair

and small political meetings. This will help to reduce pressure on Gandhi Maidan as well,

which will help maintain the latter, said an official.

The 15-metre-high main building, to be centrally air-conditioned, will have a shining façade

of glass interspersed with composite panels of coated and painted metal sheets.

The entrance plaza, a semi-circle structure, will add aesthetic charm to the composite

structure. The shopping arcade will showcase Bihar's specialities in handloom, handicraft

and other art works. Green spines will connect the open areas. Water fountains along lobby

areas and modular seating arrangements will be both fashionable and modern.

"After the CM's approval and a final nod from the cabinet, the project will get rolling. The

good news is that the nod is expected anyday," said Sudhir Kumar, principal secretary,

building construction department. "In a couple of months, tender would be invited for short-

listing the executing agency," Kumar told TOI.

A five-member committee was set up to shortlist the firm to prepare the detailed project

report (DPR). The members included three architects and two engineers from the

departments of road and building construction. The committee has shortlisted DDF

Consultant Private Ltd, a Delhi-based company, to prepare architectural and structural

details of the project.