PATNA, July 4 -- The state government on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (Hudco) for long-term financing of Rs.1 lakh crore to develop 12 greenfield satellite townships across the state. The agreement was signed in the presence of chief minister Samrat Chaudhary at the Sankalp Sabhagar. Principal secretary of the urban development and housing department Vinay Kumar and HUDCO chairman and managing director Sanjay Kulshreshtha exchanged the MoU documents. Speaking on the occasion, CM Chaudhary described the pact as a 'milestone' in Bihar's urban history. He said the townships, planned over more than three lakh acres, would feature world-class infrastructure including modern road networks, reliable water supply, sewerage systems, green spaces, educational institutions, healthcare facilities and commercial hubs. The twelve satellite townships to be developed are Patliputra (Patna), Hariharnathpuram (Sonepur), Magadh (Gaya), Mithila (Darbhanga), Tirhut (Muzaffarpur), Vikramshila (Bhagalpur), Saran (Chhapra), Koshi (Saharsa), Purnia, Ang (Munger), Sitapuram (Sitamarhi) and Dehri (Rohtas). "These satellite townships will provide better housing, high-quality civic amenities and a better quality of life for the people," Chaudhary said. "They have been conceived keeping in mind the future needs of urbanisation in the state." The CM emphasised that farmers would be made stakeholders through the land pooling method. Those opting for compensation would receive payment within 30 days. He added that apart from the Rs.1 lakh crore being invested through HUDCO, another Rs.6 lakh crore is expected to flow in from external private and institutional investors. Chaudhary reiterated the state government's commitment to planned, inclusive and sustainable urbanisation. "Bihar is determined to achieve 35% urbanisation," he said, adding that the collaboration with HUDCO would help position the state among the leading states in modern urban development. Deputy CM Bijendra Prasad Yadav, UDHD minister Nitish Mishra, chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit and other senior bureaucrats from the state government and HUDCO were present on the occasion.. The townships are being designed as self-contained urban ecosystems with sustainable features to meet emerging challenges of climate resilience and rapid population growth. Once completed, they are expected to offer a model for future urban expansion not just in Bihar but across eastern India....