PATNA, June 29 -- The urban development and housing department (UDHD) has prepared a fresh draft of Bihar Building Bye-Laws 2026 that does away with the old and rigid requirement of leaving open space on all four sides of a new building - a rule that has long cramped construction and inflated costs in crowded urban areas, officials said on Monday, adding the move will benefit homeowners and builders across Bihar.

Under the proposed changes, developers will only need to leave sufficient space on one side of the structure so that fire engines and ambulances can reach the building easily in case of an emergency. This single but far-reaching reform is being seen as a big practical relief, especially for apartment projects and commercial buil...