Patna, May 12 -- The Bihar government on Monday notified the land allotment and management policy, 2026, under the Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA), replacing its four-year-old version with a more streamlined, transparent system designed to cut red tape and expedite project setup. The nodal agency under the state's department of industries will now handle all plots and shed allotments exclusively through an online portal where available land is listed publicly. Officials said that the move aims to eliminate discretion and backroom dealings that have long plagued land allocation in many states. Secretary of the industries department and BIADA managing director Kundan Kumar on Monday described the policy as a "significant step" towards making industrial establishment in Bihar transparent, time-bound and genuinely investor-friendly. "We are introducing online allotment, e-auction where necessary, plug-and-play facilities, simplified payments and clear timelines," Kumar said. Plots in prime locations or those drawing multiple applications will go through competitive e-auction or e-bidding. Earnest money deposit has been kept modest - 2% for micro and small enterprises, 5% for medium and large ones - with full exemption for Bihar-registered startups. Land leases will run for 30, 60 or 90 years with renewal options. Advance payments have been calibrated to project size: 40% for investments up to Rs.50 lakh, scaling down to 25% for projects above Rs.7.5 crore. The balance can be paid in 10 installments over a period of 1.5 to 5 years at a rate of 9% simple interest and a penal interest of 12% in case of delay. A detailed land-use plan seeks balanced development: 55-65% for industrial plots, 15-25% for roads, 10-33% for green and open spaces, and smaller shares for utilities, commercial and social infrastructure. Plug-and-play sheds will get initial five-year allotments extendable to 15 years, with mandatory operations within 90 days....