Japan to fund infrastructure development at Buddhist sites in India

Xinhua News, Jan 31, 2007

Patna, India -- Japan will offer an aid of US$560 million for infrastructure development of historical Buddhist sites in north Indian state Bihar, a senior state government official said in Patna,India today.

"The Japan Bank of International Corporation (JBIC) will grant the fund for landscaping, solid waste management and improvement of existing drains," said C K Mishra, Bihar's Resident Commissioner in New Delhi.

Bihar is home to a number of places of Buddhist importance like Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Rajgir, Kesaria, Areraj and Mangalgarh.

The JBIC has also expressed interest in building a green field airport in Patna with all the modern facilities, Mishra said.

Mitsunari Sayato, JBIC representative, held a meeting with Sanjay Kothari, additional director general with Indian Ministry of Tourism and R S Tiwari, Bihar's tourism secretary recently in New Delhi.

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