Bodh Gaya: Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Monday said that the Buddhist Circuit, developed at the cost of billions of rupees in Bihar — the land of Gautam Buddha’s enlightenment — has significantly boosted religious tourism and created new employment opportunities for local communities.
Speaking after offering prayers at the Mahabodhi Temple on the occasion of Buddha Purnima, the deputy CM highlighted the NDA government’s commitment to equitable and inclusive development under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. “We are working tirelessly, inspired by Gautam Buddha’s teachings of peace and compassion, to ensure holistic development in Bihar,” he said.
Choudhary informed that the construction of the key road infrastructure forming the backbone of the Buddhist Circuit is in its final phase, with several routes expected to open to traffic by the end of the year. The five major highways include the Patna-Gaya-Dobhi Road, Amas-Darbhanga Expressway, the Patna Ring Road section from Ramnagar to Kachchi Dargah, Dariyapur-Manikpur-Sahebganj-Areraj-Bettiah Road, and the Gaya-Hisua-Rajgir-Nalanda-Bihar Sharif Road.
“These four-lane roads will drastically improve connectivity to important Buddhist sites across the state, from Bodh Gaya to Rajgir, Nalanda, and beyond, facilitating pilgrim tourism and accelerating the growth of Bihar’s tourism economy,” he added.
The Buddhist Circuit, aimed at integrating Bihar’s rich heritage with modern infrastructure, is expected to not only attract international pilgrims but also generate sustainable livelihoods in the hospitality and service sectors.
