Bodh Gaya/Patna: Chief minister, Samrat Choudhary, has announced a broad package of infrastructure, tourism and industrial projects for the Magadh region, including new religious corridors in Bodh Gaya and Gaya, a major township scheme and a crackdown on crime and illegal land occupation.
Speaking at a Buddha Purnima event in the Bodh Gaya Math complex, Choudhary said the state would begin work within a month on a Bodh Gaya Math corridor and would also develop Vishnupad corridor in Gaya, home to one of Hinduism’s most significant pilgrimage sites.
The twin projects are expected to boost religious tourism in one of India’s most historically significant regions, where Bodh Gaya attracts visitors from across the world as the place where Siddhartha Gautama is believed to have attained enlightenment.
The chief minister also outlined wider economic plans, including a 1,700-acre industrial corridor and a proposed 22,000-acre township under the name Magadh Township. He said the state aimed to attract investment worth Rs 5trillion by November this year.
In an effort to expand local enterprise, Choudhary said young entrepreneurs would be eligible for public contracts worth up to Rs 50 crore, while the government would prioritise the purchase of goods manufactured within Bihar.
He said the objective was to create employment opportunities inside the state and reduce outward migration by enabling people to work and invest locally.
Tourism and heritage development also featured prominently in the announcements. A museum is planned in Gaya to showcase Bihar’s cultural legacy to international visitors, while a new “Bihar Darshan” initiative aims to promote awareness of the state’s historical sites.
Choudhary praised the revival of Nalanda University, describing it as a symbol of Bihar’s intellectual heritage and modern renewal.
Alongside the development agenda, the chief minister pledged stricter law enforcement, saying Bihar would remain committed to “good governance”. He promised tougher action against criminal activity, improved safety for women and girls, and regular public grievance camps where officials would be required to decide cases within 30 days.
He also said authorities would begin removing illegal encroachments from Math land in Bodh Gaya, presenting the move as part of a wider campaign to restore public order and secure valuable land for lawful use.
The announcements come as Bihar seeks to combine infrastructure-led growth with stronger policing and heritage-driven tourism in a bid to reshape the state’s economic image.
