Patna: The Urban Landscape and Land-use Dr. Md. Salahuddin Ahmad Introduction: Patna is an ancient town having political, i. Patna, its site and situation economic, educational, religious, and cultural ii. Growth of Patna and its morphology value. It is located on the right bank of river Ganga iii. Transport network of Patna south of Hajipur. As Mahatama Gandhi Setu iv. Urban land-use of Patna connects it with Hajipur, it can be called twin city. Patna, the capital of Bihar, is one of the This longest bridge of Asia also gives direct access ancient cities of India. It has witnessed many to the people of North Bihar in Patna. vicissitudes in its historical past and after a long Rapid growth of Patna after the construction struggle and evolution has formed the present of Mahatama Gandhi Setu has attracted the author shape. During historical periods, it was known as to study the landscape and land-use of Patna. A Kusumpura, Pushpapura and Pataliputra and larger number of houses and colonies cropped up Greeks called it as Palimbrotha. It was also known in different localities of Patna in which considerable as Shree Nagara during the reign of Pala dynasty. number of working population and students from In medieval periods, it was named as Patna after all over Bihar and neighbouring states take rest. the goddess Patan Devi and village Patan near In this way, it acts as a dormitory town. On the Danapur. This modern city’s real foundation was outskirts of Patna like Didarganj in the east, laid by Bambina, Bindusara in ancient times and Danapur and Maner in the west, areas beyond during medieval period by Shershah Suri. the 3rd Byepass Road in the south and Hajipur & The Urban Landscape of Patna: Jadhua in the north, rental houses or price of The city of Patna has a good locational residential land is comparatively cheaper than advantage, as it is located in the heart of the Ganga Patna main town. Therefore, migrating people plain in Bihar. It is bounded by the river Ganga in used to settle down in these areas. the north, Flood plain of the river Punpun in the Location of Patna is also ideal as it is situated South, Flood plain of the Son in the west and the at a point which is surrounded by rivers like Ganga, confluence of the river Punpun with Ganga near Sone and Punpun making it almost a water-fort Fatuha in the east. This city is located between the or jaldurg. There are many factors that attract the latitudes 25035’ N to 250 38’ N and longitudes author to study about the correlation between the 3505’ E to 85016’ E having an area of 3,202 km2 landscape and land-use in Patna. with a population of 58.35 lakh people (2011 Objective of the study: census) which is 5.61% of the total population of The objective of the study, therefore, is to Bihar, residing in its fold. It has been divided into observe and analyse a wide range of features of Patna 47 municipal wards and 10 other wards (Fig.1). It in order to abstract and derive the operation of this is situated on the levee of the river Ganga having a system. The system can be thoroughly analysed to linear shape. It stretches east- west about 12 miles know the inter-related processes. The main objectives long and has a very small width of one mile to three of the study may be enumerated as follows:- miles only. Patna is well connected with other parts of the region by different means of transportation. PGT, Department of Geography, D.A.V. School, BSEB Colony, Patna No. 21, Vol., IV, September 2020 82 Ideal Research Review The main broad gauge railway line on Eastern airlines are also operating between Patna and other Railway (Howrah-New Delhi) runs parallel to the cities of India. These are Sahara Airlines, Air Deccan, Ganga along the southern margin of the city (Fig.- Jet Airlines, and Kingfisher Airlines etc. 1). Patna- Gaya line connects it also with the Site and Location: Grand- Chord line of the Eastern Railway and also The site and location is considered main by South-eastern Railway to the industrially rich controlling factors in the growth and development region of the Chotanagpur plateau. of the urban centres. The present structure of the Fig.-1 city is the gift of its elongated levee land of the city. Patna is located on the air-route of the Indian The river Ganga and its situation characterize the Airlines and Royal Nepal Airways. These two routes site of Patna. The natural levee has provided a provide air services to Kathmandu, N. Delhi, Kolkata and Ranchi. At present, many private favourable base for the expansion of the city. The parts of the southern edge are not habitable river Ganga and the abandoned courses of the river because of the water logging by frequent flooding Son characterize the site of Patna. The higher land of river Punpun and rainwater logging. The linear stretches west to east in the form of a levee for a shape of Patna is mainly the outcome of the levee considerable distance along the southern bank of on which it is situated. Although the township has the river Ganga. South of the elongated levee, the developed along the levee from Danapur to surface of the land has a general slope towards the Maalsalami but only limited portion from Kurji south. As such, low-lying areas run almost parallel Hospital in the west to Gulbighat in the east is lined to the levee resulting in water logging. with bricks and wooden poles, which protects the The present site on which the city stands is southern bank against erosion. formed of natural levee of the river Ganga and its Although the stable southern bank of the river tributaries through the ages. In the early phase of Ganga has influenced the growth of Patna by its evolution, the river Son was flowing through an providing almost permanent site but it has also area where the present capital area has developed. worked as hindrance in the past for the northward The westward shifting course of the Son provided expansion of the city. The whole area south of the newer land surfaces for future expansion of this river Ganga bears imprint of the shifting courses of urban centre to the west. the river Son and Punpun. As the levee, upland along No doubt, the whole land is featureless and the southern bank of the Ganga restricts the flow of flat between the river Ganga and Punpun in the tributaries joining it from the south when river Ganga south with general slope from north to south. Some is inundated and the Punpun also get flooded, the No. 21, Vol., IV, September 2020 83 Ideal Research Review Fig.-1 high rising water of Ganga does allow the entry of of Bihar. The Raj Bhawan, Assembly Houses, water and the flow of Punpun is reversed. Secretariat Buildings etc are engaged in Urban Land use of Patna administrative functions. However, Patna is not Right from the time of its origin the city of known for any big industry but there is a great Patna has been a source of different service not potential for its development. A large number of only for its citizens but also for the people of its cottage and small-scale industries have developed neighbouring area. That is why it has gained in the city. In fact, about 13% of the total working multifunctional character. Certainly, the functional force is engaged in manufacturing sector,which specialization has been changing from time to time shows its importance in the economy of the in trade & commerce, administration, education, city.Regarding the recreational facilities of Patna, health etc. Its haphazard, spontaneous and Road Pattern of Patna unplanned growth in greater part through a long The road patterns and their designs are period has resulted in the overlapping and greatly influenced by the elongated flood free levee intermixing of various land use. Although, the upland along the river Ganga. Other roads parallel unplanned growth of the city has caused the to railway line and flood protected embankment development of mixed land use in most parts, have developed even in low-lying area in east-west except in the newly planned areas. However, direction. However, the analysis of existing road dominance of various functions in various parts pattern explains the growth of parallel roads along cannot be rooted out. In Western Patna, several the riverbanks. Here, these are three parallel roads new residential areas like Shri Krishnapuri, L.I.C. traversing its length as if other unplanned city Patna Colony etc. have cropped up in a planned way. too has narrow and zigzag roads and lanes Patna is also famous for educational functions. especially in its central and eastern side.The bulk Several educational institutions providing general of the traffic is still commanded by the historical and technical education attract the people of most Ashok Rajpath, which runs parallel to Ganga on part of Bihar and neighbouring states. Most of the the highest part of the levee. technical and medical educational institutions form Though Ashok Rajpath handles most of the a distinct zone in the middle of the city in north of traffic flow of Patna still is neither straight nor Ashok Rajpath.The growth of western Patna is due uniform in width. It is happened due to to administrative functions. Patna is dominated by encroachment. At many places, the width of the administrative functions because it is the capital city road is less than 20 feet particularly between No.