Development Alternatives, in collaboration with IIT Patna, organised a Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on 25 May 2026 at Hotel Chanakya, Patna, bringing together over 70 participants from government departments, academia, industry, research institutions, and sustainable material enterprises to deliberate on pathways for sustainable and circular construction in Bihar.

The workshop focused on accelerating Bihar's transition towards a low-carbon and resource-efficient built environment through the adoption of sustainable construction materials and circular economy approaches. Key government departments in attendance included the Building Construction Department (BCD), Urban Development and Housing Department (UDHD), Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (DEFCC), and the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB).

Technical sessions featured insights from experts including Dr. Surender Singh (IIT Madras), Dr. Ramakrishna Bag (IIT Patna), Mr. Sudip Kumar (LaaCasa Group), Sri Rakesh Kumar Kamal (Patna Metropolitan Area Authority), and Dr. Soumen Maity (Development Alternatives). A key highlight of the workshop was the launch of the report, “Pathways for Decarbonisation in the Built Environment of Bihar through Sustainable Materials”. The report presented projections of Bihar’s future construction growth and associated embodied carbon emissions between 2026 and 2070, while highlighting the potential of low-carbon materials and opportunities for carbon revenue generation.

Discussions highlighted the potential of low-carbon materials such as LC3 cement, AAC blocks, fly ash bricks, and recycled Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste in reducing embodied carbon emissions while supporting scalable construction growth. Industry representatives from Dalmia Cement, L&T, Bihar Fly Ash Brick Association, AAC block manufacturers, and other stakeholders emphasised the need for stronger policy support, market linkages, and region-specific implementation strategies to mainstream sustainable materials in Bihar's housing and infrastructure sectors.

The consultation reinforced a collective vision of transforming Bihar into a hub for sustainable and circular construction through collaborative action across government, industry, academia, and civil society.