Giridih, Oct. 28: Tourism is all set for a major boost as the state tourism department has drawn up several ambitious plans as was announced at the inauguration of the four-day state adventure tourism festival at Khandoli today.

In a bid to lure tourists on the Giridih-Gaya route, the department has decided to connect two major Jain and Buddhist tourist centres Parasnath and Bodh Gaya.

Proposal for the Rs 8 crore project will soon be submitted to the Union government for funding.

Tourism secretary S.K. Choudhary said, after inaugurating the festival, a Tirthankar Buddhist circuit comprising five districts ? Giridih, Hazaribagh, Chatra, Koderma, Bokaro and Dhanbad? would be formed.

?Lakhs of tourists, especially pilgrims, visit Parashnath in Giridih and Bodh Gaya in Bihar every year. The two major Jain and Buddhist centres are well connected by road and all we need to do is to develop some tourist spots in between the two places,? Choudhary said.

?We will ask for central funds to develop the route and may work jointly with the Bihar tourism department to promote the circuit. But we have not yet initiated any discussions with them,? said Choudhary.

?We will build a wayside amenity at Bagoder, a Bus Stand in Parasnath, and develop the local tourist spots. We will also publish a brochure about for the tourists,? he added.

Choudhary spoke about the development work being carried on in the Parasnath Hill. He said discussions were on with the water and electricity boards to set up a power substation and a water reservoir at Madhuban to overcome the water and electricity crisis in the area.

Lauding the efforts of the department, Choudhary said, ?What the department has achieved in these four years, despite the rebel activity, is commendable.?

As many as hundred participants of Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Orissa and Jharkhand of different adventure sports will display their skills including hot air ballooning, parasailing and paragliding, during the festival. Deputy commissioner Rakesh Ranjan was also present at the occasion.