Determined to change the landscape of Patna once and for all, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, on Tuesday, said that his government has chalked out a plan to develop Greater Patna on the pattern of National Capital Region (NCR) by including Hajipur, Danapur, Fatuha, and some other neighboring towns for a total of 74,000 acres of land within its range.The plan under the ambitious Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Development Scheme will involve construction of many new residential subdivisions, shopping centers, hospitals, parks, schools, and playgrounds, among other things, Urban Development Minister Ashwini Kumar Chaubey said adding the Patna Regional Development Authority (PRDA) had already begun the ground work on a detailed master plan.There are also provisions for converting the areas near Patna Junction including the existing New Market and the old Bankipore Jail into posh shopping malls and multiplexes, Chaubey said.The minister, however, admitted that the proposed plan to build a Marine Drive type boulevard along the Ganges in Patna had hit some snags as the government was still waiting for the NRIs to step in and invest in the Rs. 500 crore project to turn the dream into a reality."We are still negotiating with some foreign-based firms owned by non-resident Indians but so far no deal has been reached," Chaubey said adding in case no one shows interest in the plan, the government will initiate the project at a smaller level and gradually expand it to all the ghats between Patna City and Digha.
RANJAN RITURAJ SINH
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