Patna: The Union ministry of road transport and highways is developing roads at various places associated with the Buddhist circuit spread over two states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to promote tourism.
The Buddhist circuits include the places where Lord Buddha was born, attained enlightenment, preached his first sermon and reached Nirvana. Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar are the prime pilgrimage places associated with the life and teachings of the Buddha.
There are numerous other sites where the Buddha and the 'bhikshus' travelled during his life after his transformation.
Bodh Gaya-Nalanda-Rajgir-Vaishali-Kahalgaon-Patna route has been identified as Buddhist circuit in Bihar whereas Bodh Gaya (Bihar)-Sarnath (UP)-Kushinagar (UP)-Piparahvah (UP) route falls in the 'Dharmayatra' circuit. The extended Dharmayatra circuit also covers Bodh Gaya (Bihar)-Vikramshila (Bihar) - Sarnath (UP) -Kushinagar (UP) - Kapilvastu (UP) - Sankisa (UP) - Piparhavah (UP).
Talking about the current status of various Buddhist circuit routes in Bihar, an official said NH-83 connects Patna to Gaya and Gaya to Dobhi on NH-2 (125km). The entire stretch is with the NHAI and presently it is a 2-lane road and the 4-laning of the stretch has started. The civil cost of construction is Rs1,232 crore. The total project cost is Rs2,264.94 crore.
Bodh Gaya-Rajgir-Nalanda-Biharsharif-Kahalgaon-Vikramshila (Part NH-82, Part NH-31, Part NH-80) and NH-82 connects Gaya - Rajgir-Biharsharif and Biharsharif to Mokama. The 95km stretch of Gaya-Rajgir is entrusted to Bihar State Road Corporation for its 4- laning. Work has been awarded and is in progress. The remaining 52km of Biharsharif-Mokama section is with NHAI and is single/double lane. The 2-laning work is being carried out at a cost of Rs442 crore, including a civil cost is Rs371 crore.
The four-laning work in Patna-Bakhtiyarpur (NH 30) section has been opened for traffic. Bakhtiyarpur, Mokama and Khagaria on NH-31 is with NHAI.
Mokamah-Munger (NH 80) double lane is completed except Barahaiya bypass. Four-laning work from Munger to Vikramshila is proposed.
Patna to Vaishali (NH-19) is a 92km long NH passing through Manjhi, Chhapra, Hajipur and Pahari.
The 62km stretch on Chhapra- Hajipur section is with the NHAI and the 4-laning is likely to be completed soon.
Kushinagar to Muzaffarpur is already 4 laned under East-West Corridor (NHDP-II), except the 2-lane bridge over river Gandak and its immediate approaches and about 18km near Gopalganj for which work has been re-awarded by the NHAI.
The work on six-laning of Varanasi-Aurangabad section of NH-2 from Km786.000 to Km978.000 is in progress and supposed to be completed by April 31, 2017.
Till date, 58km has been completed against 192km of this road.