CM Nitish Kumar launches convention centre work

GAYA: CM Nitish Kumar on Saturday launched the work commencement of Rs145-crore state-of-the-art Mahabodhi convention centre and announced much-needed changes in traffic plan at Bodh Gaya with immediate effect.


The traffic plan imposed on February 23 this year without providing workable alternative had triggered an unprecedented three-day bandh in the town. The district administration had banned the entry of motorized vehicles beyond node 1, about 1km from the

Mahabodhi Temple

. People had either to walk or ride an e-rickshaw from node 1 to the main temple. Businessmen and locals were the worst sufferers as replenishing stocks became an stupendous task.

Conceding the demand for a change in the traffic plan, the CM said vehicles would now be allowed till the Royal Thai monastery, a short distance away from the main temple.

The convention centre is being built for 2000 people on a 13 acre plot and is likely to be readied by March 2020. It will also have a smaller 500 capacity auditorium, a 1,000 capacity banquet hall etc. The centre will have facilities like rain harvesting and eco-friendly lighting system.

The CM said a 100-bed guesthouse with 5 star facilities would also be built near the centre. He also announced a

planetarium

at Bodh Gaya. The twin areas of Gaya and Bodh Gaya meant much for him and he was committed to give a facelift to these places of religious importance, Nitish said.

Referring to complaints of sanitation deficit, the CM asked officials to ensure higher level of cleanliness in Gaya town. Six lakh pilgrims visited Gaya during the Pitrapaksha recently, he said.

Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi dwelt on the importance of Gaya and Bodh Gaya. Those also present included assembly Speaker Vijay Chaudhary, education minister Krishna Nandan Verma, tourism minister Pramod Kumar, building construction minister

Maheshwar Hazari

and agriculture minister Prem Kumar.