Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch development projects worth Rs 12,992 crore in Gayaji on Friday, with a strong focus on religious tourism. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary said these projects will not only promote culture and heritage but also create new opportunities for jobs and business in the state.
A special Buddha Circuit train will start from Vaishali to Koderma, passing through Hajipur, Patna, Rajgir and Gayaji. This will connect important Buddhist heritage sites and make it easier for pilgrims and tourists to travel. Along with this, a 1.86 km six-lane bridge on National Highway-31 has been built at a cost of Rs 1,870 crore to improve access to Simaria Dham, the birthplace of national poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar.
The government is also building a grand Maa Janaki Temple at Punauradham in Sitamarhi on 67 acres of land at a cost of Rs 882 crore. In Vaishali, the Buddha Samyak Darshan Museum has been opened to promote tourism. Another major announcement will be the Sultanganj-Deoghar railway line, which will make travel easier for crores of devotees during the Shravani fair.
Chaudhary said these efforts will increase the number of tourists and create local jobs in hotels, transport and other services. He added that under Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Bihar’s tourism sector is growing fast and becoming a new strength for the state’s economy.
Other plans include building three five-star hotels in Rajgir and Vaishali, beautifying Patna Sahib and other Sikh sites, and developing the Ramayana Circuit at the global level. Bihar’s tourism budget has grown from just Rs 7.43 crore two decades ago to Rs 914.44 crore today, showing the government’s commitment to the sector.
