Chapter I PRELIMINARY

Short Title, Extent, and Commencement.—

1. (1) This Act may be called the Bihar City Development Act, 2026.
2. (2) It shall extend to the whole of the State of Bihar.
3. (3) It shall come into force from the date of publication in the official Gazette.

Definitions.-In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires: .—

1. (i) “Appellate Authority” means an authority to be notified by the State Government under which appeal shall lie under this Act.
2. (ii) "Authority" means the Bihar City Development Authority

1. (BCDA) constituted under Section 3;
   • (iii) "BUPD Act" means the Bihar Urban Planning and Development Act, 2012, as amended from time to time;
   • (iv) "Core Area" means a territory delineated by the Government within a Special Area designated for city development for commencing planning and development works;
   • (v) "Development Plan" means a plan for the development, redevelopment, or improvement of a Special Area or part thereof within the jurisdiction of the Authority, and includes a Regional Development Plan, a Metropolitan Development Plan, an Area Development Plan, a Master Plan, a Town Development Plan, a Zonal Development Plan, a District Development Plan, a Layout Plan, a Local Area Plan, a Town Planning Scheme or any other plan or scheme prepared under this Act, by whatsoever name known;
   • (vi) "Land Purchase Policy" means the Bihar Raiyati Bhumi Kray Niti, 2026, or any subsequent policy, notified by the State Government for the direct purchase of land through mutual consent;
   • (vii) "Lease Policy" means the Bihar Raiyati Bhumi Lease Niti, 2014, or any subsequent policy, notified by the State Government for the perpetual leasing of land through mutual consent;
   • (viii) "Local Authority" means a Local Authority as defined in clause (XXVIII) of section 2 of the Bihar Urban Planning and Development Act, 2012;
   • (ix) “Negotiated Settlement” means the voluntary transfer, conveyance, surrender or vesting of land, or of any legally transferable interest therein, in favour of the Authority pursuant to a written agreement entered into with the lawful owner and, where applicable, other persons having a lawful interest in such land, on mutually agreed consideration and terms, in accordance with such procedure and safeguards as may be prescribed, and otherwise than through purchase or compulsory acquisition under any law for the time being in force.
   • (x) "Planning Area" means a Planning Area as defined in clause (XXXVIII) of section 2 of the Bihar Urban Planning and Development Act, 2012;
   • (xi) "Planning Authority" means a Planning Authority as defined in clause (XXXIX) of section 2 of the Bihar Urban Planning and Development Act, 2012;
   • (xii) "Special Area" means a geographically demarcated territory notified by the Government for the purposes of planning and development under this Act and shall be known by such name as the Government may decide;
   • (xiii) "Town Planning Scheme Rules" means the Bihar Town Planning Scheme Rules, 2025 (as amended) framed under the Bihar Urban Planning and Development Act, 2012.
   • (xiv) “Transferable Development Right” means development potential, expressed in terms of additional Floor Area Ratio, Floor Space Index or permissible built-up area, granted by the Authority to the owner or other person having a lawful interest in land or built-up space, as consideration for the voluntary transfer, surrender and vesting of such land or built-up space in the Authority for a public purpose, free from all encumbrances and with vacant possession, and evidenced by a Development Rights Certificate, which may be utilised on an eligible receiving plot or transferred to another person in such manner and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed.