Patna: Two major public works in Bihar — a tower dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi in Patna and a Buddhist memorial complex in Vaishali — have been recognised at the 17th CIDC Vishwakarma Awards 2026 for excellence in construction.
The projects, Bapu Tower in Patna and the Buddha Samyak Darshan Museum and Memorial Stupa in Vaishali, were developed by Bihar’s Building Construction Department and were named winners in the “Best Construction Projects” category at a ceremony held in New Delhi on Thursday. The awards were presented by the union road transport and highways minister, Nitin Gadkari. The state’s building construction secretary, Kumar Ravi, received the honour on behalf of the department.
Speaking after the ceremony, Ravi said the recognition marked “a matter of great pride for Bihar” and credited the state’s leadership and departmental teams for the achievement. He said both projects had been executed under the guidance of the chief minister and involved collaboration between engineers, architects and implementing agencies.
The awards add to a growing list of national recognitions for Bihar’s public infrastructure projects, with earlier developments such as the Samrat Ashok Convention Centre in Patna and Anjuman Islamia Hall also receiving CIDC Vishwakarma honours in previous years.
Officials have positioned the two latest award-winning sites as part of a broader attempt to reposition Bihar as a centre for heritage-led infrastructure development, combining tourism, cultural preservation and modern construction techniques.
The Bapu Tower, located in Patna’s Gardanibagh area, is dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi and presents his life and philosophy through a mix of audiovisual installations, murals, sculptures and short films. The museum traces Gandhi’s connection with Bihar and highlights key moments from his political and social campaigns in the region.
According to officials, the structure has been designed not only as a tourist destination but also as an educational space aimed at students and young visitors. The use of multimedia displays is intended to present Gandhi’s life in an interactive format, reflecting a wider trend in museum design across India that incorporates digital storytelling alongside traditional exhibits.
The second project, the Buddha Samyak Darshan Museum and Memorial Stupa in Vaishali, was constructed on a 72-acre site intended to preserve and showcase Buddhist relics and heritage. The complex has become a focal point for Buddhist pilgrims, both domestic and international, since its inauguration in July 2025.
Built using sandstone sourced from Banshi Paharpur in Rajasthan, the structure incorporates modern engineering methods designed to improve seismic resilience. Officials said the stupa’s core structure was engineered to remain stable over long periods, with design features aimed at withstanding earthquakes.
Alongside the main stupa, the site includes a museum block, library, visitor centre and amphitheatre, forming a broader cultural and educational complex. Authorities say the project is intended to strengthen Buddhist tourism in the region while also preserving the historical significance of Vaishali, widely regarded as an important centre in early Buddhist history.
The Building Construction Department said the award reflects a shift in Bihar’s infrastructure strategy towards projects that combine cultural identity with large-scale public architecture.
