China offers to develop Buddhist spots in Bihar

Nalanda, Feb 12: Showing special interest in the development of Buddhist spots in Bihar, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaxing today offered monetary support in promoting the land of Buddha. Addressing the inaugural function of Xuan Zang Memorial Hall, constructed to mark the historic visit of the Chinese scholar of Buddhist theology in the seventh century Xuan Zang, Zhaxing said China had already prepared a project for the development of Buddhist spots in Bihar and would invest here accordingly. He said if the Bihar government provides China with land for the project, the country would execute its schemes on the holy land of Buddha. Expressing pleasure at the construction of Xuan Zang Memorial Hall, Zhaxing said it would further strengthen Sino-Indian relation. In a reminiscent mood the Foreign Minister said China had handed over the urn of Xuan Zang, the symbol of the cordial Sino-Indian relations, to the Bihar government fifty years ago and now it was great pride for china that the urn was placed in the Memorial Hall. Enthused with the Chinese offer for investment in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar assured to provide land for the projects and maintained that the government would extend logistic support to the Chinese government.

'New BG line will be completed on time'

PATNA: Railway minister Lalu Prasad on Friday held a high-level meeting with the Railway Board officials in New Delhi and took stock of the ongoing Hajipur-Sugauli new broad gauge (BG) line project. Lalu also held discussions with Union rural development minister Raghubansh Prasad Singh with regard to the matter. Lalu directed the railway officials concerned to expedite the new BG line project and sort out problems with the Bihar government. He himself spoke to the state chief secretary over phone from New Delhi on the issue of land acquisition for the project. The railway minister hoped that the 152-km-long Hajipur-Sugauli new BG line project would be completed on time with the full cooperation from the state government. This new BG line project involves 48 villages under the East Champaran district and 53 villages in the Muzaffarpur district. The total area required for land acquisition measures up to about 1,554 acres. Railway officials have been holding meeting with the DMs of these two districts on a regular basis to complete the first phase of the land acquisition work. The completion of this project will complete the entire Buddhist circuit as envisaged earlier by the railways. The Buddhist circuit covers Kushinagar and Sarnath in UP and Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Patna, Hajipur, Vaishali, Kesaria, Areraj and Sugauli in Bihar. Meanwhile, the railway minister has directed the ECR officials to complete all the ongoing railway projects on a priority basis.