Dr. Avnish Jolly, 12 th August, 2008:RK Singh, Principal Secretary the Road Construction Department, Bihar said that Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has agreed to fund the construction of 481.20 km of four-lane roads for Bihar’s Buddhist tourism circuit, with a view to increase tourism infrastructure, Bihar Buddhist tourism circuit roads will be made four-lane with the help of JBIC.
Singh shared the JBIC has assured the government of Rs 1,600 crore for the construction of four-lane roads and under the project, the existing 275 km stretch of the Bakhtiarpur-Biharsharif-Nalanda-Rajgir-Hisua-Gaya-Bodh Gaya route will be fully upgraded. The roads connecting Buddhist holy shrines are in poor condition, discouraging foreign tourists from travelling to the region.
Singh added that Bihar government will submit the project plan by October. The report is almost ready. A consultant will study the sites in November, followed by a JBIC fact finding mission and the work on the project would start from April next year.