PATNA

History
INTRODUCTION
Builder Ajatashatru
■ Patna, the capital of Bihar state, and is one of the oldest continuously
inhabited places in the world and the History of Patna spans at least three Found 490 BCE
millennia. ed

■ Patna has the distinction of being associated with the two most ancient Aband Became
religions of the world, namely, Buddhism and Jainism, and has seen the rise oned modern Patna
and fall of empires of the Mauryas and the Guptas.
Associ Haryankas, Nandas,
■ It has been a part of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire, and has ated wi Mauryans, Shungas
seen the rule of the Nawabs of Bengal, the East India Company and th , Guptas, Palas, She
the British Raj. r Shah Suri
■ Patna has been one of the nerve centers of First War of Independence, Manag Archaeological
participated actively in India's Independence movement, and emerged in the
post-independent India as the most populous city of East India after Kolkata. ement Survey of India

Area(2001)
■ CURRENT STATICS Urban 135.79 km2
Population (2011)
Density 16,925/km2

Location of Patna in Bihar

 FORMATION OF PATNA
■ The first accepted references to the place is observed more than 2500 years ago
in Jain and Buddhist scriptures.
■ According to folklore, Raja Sheet is said to be the father of Patna, who created this city with magic for his
queen Patali. For this reason the city got its name Pataligram.
■ Recorded history of the city begins in the year 490 BCE when Ajatashatru, the king of Magadh, wanted to
shift his capital from the hilly Rajgriha to a more strategically located place to combat the Lichivis
of Vaishali. He chose a site on the bank of the Ganges and established the Apma fort and fortified the area
which developed into Patna.
■ It became the capital of major powers in ancient India, such as the Nanda Empire (345-320 BCE),
the Maurya Empire(320-180 BCE), and the Gupta Empire (320-550 CE). During the Maurya period, it
became one of the largest cities in the world.
■ Extensive archaeological excavations have been made in the vicinity of modern Patna. Excavations early in
the 20th century around Patna revealed clear evidence of large fortification walls, including reinforcing
wooden trusses.
■ Ideal plan of Pataliputra after Megasthenes and Mahabhasya.
Location of Bulandi Bagh in the ancient city of Pataliputra
and modern Patna (Pataliputra city limits in dotted line)
 EVOLUTION OF PATNA
■ Pataliputra became the center of power after the rise of the Maury Empire Chandragupta Maurya's
empire stretched from the Bay of Bengal to Afghanistan .Early Patliputra was made of wood, but Emperor
Ashoka transformed the town into a structure of rock.
■ Early Mauryan Pataliputra was mostly built with wooden structures.
■ The wooden buildings and palaces rose to several stories and were surrounded by parks and ponds.
■ Another distinctive feature of the city was the drainage system. Water course from every street drained
into a moat which functioned both as defence as well as sewage disposal. According to Megasthenes,
Pataliputra of the period of Chandragupta, was "surrounded by a wooden wall pierced by 64 gates and 570
towers— (and) surpassed the splendors of contemporaneous Persian sites such as Susa and Ecbatana.
■ During the reign of Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE, it was one of the world's largest cities, with a
population of 150,000–400,000.The city is estimated to have had a surface of 25.5 square kilometers,
and a circumference of 33.8 kilometers, and was in the shape of a parallelogram and had 64 gates (that
is, approximately one gate every 500 meters).Pataliputra reached the pinnacle of prosperity when it was
the capital of the great Mauryan Emperors, Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka.
■ Megasthenes says that on one side where it is longest this city extends ten miles in length, and that its
breadth is one and threequarters miles; that the city has been surrounded with a ditch in breadth 600 feet,
and in depth 45 feet; and that its wall has 570 towers and 64 gates." Arrian, "The Indica“
■ At the confluence of the Ganges and of another river is situated Palibothra, in length 80, and in breadth 15
stadia. It is in the shape of a parallelogram, surrounded by a wooden wall pierced with openings through
which arrows may be discharged. In front is a ditch, which serves the purpose of defence and of a sewer
for the city." Strabo, "Geographia"
■ Bulandi Bagh is an area of the archaeological site of Pataliputra (north of
railway station of the modern city of Patna). It is mainly known for the discovery
of the monumental Pataliputra capital, unearthed in 1895 by L.A. Waddell, as
well as the excavation of wooden palissades thought to have formed the
protective walls of ancient Pataliputra.
■ Bulandhi Bagh is thougt to have been part of the Maurya dynasty royal palace in
Pataliputra

Mauryan remains of a wooden palissade at Bulandi

Bagh site, 1926-27. Mauryan remains of wooden palissade at the Bulandi
Bagh site, 1912-13.
Its central location in north eastern India led rulers of successive dynasties to base their
administrative capital here, from the Nandas, Mauryans, Shungas and the Guptas down to the Palas Situated
at the confluence of the Ganges, Gandhaka and Son rivers, Pataliputra formed a "water fort, or jaldurga" .

Its position helped it dominate the river line trade of the Indo-Gangetic plains during Magadha's early imperial
period.

It was a great centre of trade and commerce and attracted merchants and intellectuals from all over India.

The most remarkable period during the Middle Ages was under the Pathan emperor Sher Shah Suri, who revived
Patna in the middle of the 16th century. He built a fort and founded a town on the banks of the Ganges.
Sher Shah's fort in Patna does not survive, although the Sher Shah Suri mosque, built in Afghan architectural style,
does.

During Mughal empire Patna flourished as a centre for paper, stone and glass industries. He also refers to the high
quality of numerous strains of rice grown in Patna, famous as Patna rice in Europe.

By 1620, the city of Patna was being described as the "chefest mart towne of all Bengala" (i.e. largest town in
Bengal) in northern India, "the largest town in Bengal and the most famous for trade"

With the decline of the Mughal empire, Patna moved into the hands of the Nawabs of Bengal,who flourish patna as a
commercial centre.The mansions of the Maharaja of Tekari Raj dominated the Patna river front in 1811–12.
PRESENT MAP OF PATNA 2018 HISTORICAL MAP OF PATNA 1924
BRITISH EMPIRE.

During the 17th century, Patna became a centre of international trade.

In 1620, the English East India Company established a factory in Patna for trading in calico and silk. Soon it
became a trading centre for saltpetre.

Francois Bernier, in Travels in the Mogul Empire (1656–1668), says ". It was carried down the Ganges with
great facility, and the Dutch and English sent large cargoes to many parts of the Indies, and to Europe". This
trade encouraged other Europeans, principally the French, Danes, Dutch and Portuguese, to compete in the
lucrative business.

Peter Mundy, writing in 1632, described Patna as "the greatest mart of the eastern region".

After the decisive Battle of Buxar of 1764, as per the treaty of Allahabad East India Company was given the
right to collect tax of this former Mughal province by the Mughal emperor.

Patna was annexed by the company in 1793 to its territory when Nizamat(Mughal suzernaity) was abolished
and British East India company took control of the province of Bengal-Bihar. Patna however continued as a
trading centre.

In 1912, when the Bengal Presidency was partitioned, Patna became the capital of the British province of Bihar
and Orissa, although in 1935 Orissa became a separate entity with its own capital.
Main street of Patna, showing one side of the
Chowk, 1814–15

City of Patna, on the River Ganges, 19th-century painting

Street in Patna, 1825 (British, active in India) Golghar at Bankipore, near Patna, 1814–15
EXISTING FEATURES

Patna is an important commercial centre. Due to its central position at the junction of the three rivers, it has the
additional advantage of transport of goods by river.

The most important commodities manufactured in the PMC are electronic goods, food grains are imported and
vegetables are exported.

The municipal corporation area comprises of large business quarters namely, Marufganj, Masurganj, Mirchiyaganj,
Maharajaganj, etc.

The commercial establishments within the city are mainly lined along the arterial and major roads and there is
extensive mixed land use of commercial and residential use throughout the city.

Planning Significance of Patna as a City Patna is the largest corporation with 44.1% share of the population of 7
corporations, and 20% of total urban population of Bihar State.

Out of 35 million plus cities (2001 Census) in India, Patna is 17th in rank with a total Urban Agglomeration
population of 1,707,429.

Patna Urban Agglomeration Area has been experiencing rapid growth at rate of 48.13% (1991-2001) which higher
than Patna District Average growth (30.65%) and State average growth of 28%.
Patna master plan
*In October 2016, Bihar cabinet approved the Patna master plan 2031 which
envisages development of a new airport at Bihta.

*Patna master 2031 is the second master plan of city which has been passed
ever, after the last plan was approved for 1961-1981.

*Patna master plan covers six urban local bodies - Patna Municipal
Corporation, Danapur Nagar Parishad, Phulwarisharif Nagar Parishad,
Khagaul Nagar Parishad, Maner Nagar Panchayat and Fatuha Nagar
Panchayat.

*5 satellite towns have also been proposed in the master plan at Bihta,
Naubatpur, Punpun, Fatuha and Khusrupur.
REVISED PLAN THROUGH YEARS
• Capital City, Patna do not possess the Master Plan since 1981 resulting in unplanned and haphazard
development in the peripheral areas.
• Patna has been replicating the urban fabric in a series of repeating modules, as the city grows
outwards. These new activity nodes influence land use in surrounding areas, reflected in significantly
higher land / property prices. Moreover, there has been a lack of infrastructure investment, limiting
accessible land.

-MASTER PLAN ( 1961-81)

-PLAN UPDATED (1981-2001)
-MASTER PLAN (2001-21)

MASTER PLAN ( 1961-81)

• The first Master Plan was prepared in the year 1962-81 and in reality; it was a quick land use exercise.
It was partially develop as per the Master Plan.
• The city and its suburban area were facing critical problems due to high population growth trend,
housing demands, water supply, drainage, etc.
• It creates a chaotic situation due to unplanned development and traffic congestion. This encouraged
the authorities to take up revision of the Master Plan before the lapse of the time by Urban
Development Department, Government of Bihar.
-PLAN UPDATED (1981-2001)
• Development, which happened in and around Patna during the broad-brush Master Plan period 1962 to 1982,
was largely unplanned in addition to existing organic growth. The city and its suburbs were facing urgent
problems related to traffic and transportation, housing, drainage, water supply etc. due to population growth.
• As per provisions of section 16, 17 and 18 of Bihar Regional Development Authorities Act, it is a statutory
obligation to prepare Master Plans for all urban centers located within PRDA's defined territorial jurisdictions i.e.
PUA, Fatwah, Maner, Hajipur and Sonepur.

• A re-orientation of the whole land use system is required for the area.Draft of the Revised Master Plan of PMC for
the period 1982 - 2001 was prepared for PRDA by a team of planners and other urban agglomerations experts of
Patna in 1986.

• This Master Plan was only partially successful mainly because of the various socioeconomic forces. The
directions of growth emerged from this plan but there were several problems with its implementation.

1. Widening of existing roads was not possible due to both financial and legal constraints.
2. The rapid population growth, inadequate infrastructure for controlling development and paucity of funds lead to
unplanned organic growth, the zoning, sub division regulations were rarely applied, and growth seemed to
emerge despite the plan.
MASTER PLAN (2001-21)
• The project is largely concerned with the revision of Patna Master Plan 2021. The methodology will
be comprised of preparing baseline information on population characteristics and its socio-
economic attributes, revising, proposing land utilization details in order to cater the requirement of
the projected future population growth, density, migration, and employment into consideration.
• The methodology adopted for every stage is given below:
- Stage 1: Project initiation:
I. Project team mobilization
II. Identification of secondary sources and required data.
III. Baseline profile of the project area.
IV. Conceptualization of the project area.
V. Study of previous planning initiatives.

-Stage 02 and 03: Analysis of existing situation & Future projections and Concept Plan:
I. Socio-Economic Analysis.
II. Settlement Structure Analysis.
III. Land Potential Analysis.
IV. Future Projections and Final Concept Plan.
Stage 04: Updated Base Map and Existing Land Use Map

Information available and updated base map:

Base map is a map containing visible surface features and boundaries, essential for
locating additional layers or types of geo-referenced information for the project area.
generally, it includes administrative boundaries, city boundaries, water features,
physiographic features, parks, landmarks, highways, roads, railways, airports, and
buildings overlaid on land cover and shaded relief imagery for added context.
Various other maps in a geographic information system are developed from the
control document.
Demographic and Economic Attributes
Demographic and socio-economic attributes used for the delineation of the master plan to
know growth areas and employment areas.
The following are the parameters studied:
• Population Density
• Population Growth Rate
• Sex-Ratio
• Literacy Rate
• Percentage (%) Main Worker
• Percentage (%) Marginal Worker
• Percentage (%) Non- Primary Worker

The map shows that nearly 98 villages are developing in the project area in all the above respect.
MULTIPLE NUCLEI CONCEPT
MASTER PLAN OF PATNA