Samrat promises revival of Vikramshila Mahavihara

Bhagalpur: Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary on Tuesday announced plans to revive the ancient Vikramshila Mahavihara on the lines of Nalanda University, while outlining a series of infrastructure and development initiatives for Bhagalpur division.Addressing a gathering during CM Nitish Kumar’s Samriddhi Yatra, Choudhary said the state govt was working on major projects including airports, a metro rail system and road connectivity in Bhagalpur and Banka districts.“Several developmental steps for Bhagalpur and Banka districts, including a new greenfield airport in Bhagalpur besides upgradation of the old airfield at Bhagalpur into additional airport, are being considered very shortly and that will make two airports for the people of Bhagalpur division,” he said, adding that a metro rail project was also under consideration for the city.He added that a Marine Drive would be built in Bhagalpur along the Ganga and announced plans to supply Ganga water to the Hanumana Dam in Belhar block of Banka district for irrigation.Choudhary said Bihar had witnessed major improvements after 2005 under the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar with support from PM Narendra Modi.“Before 2005 Bihar suffered a severe lack of basic amenities as at that time people did not have access to basic conveniences such as schools, hospitals, roads, uninterrupted electricity supply, safe potable water etc. But now things have changed remarkably in Bihar,” he said.