Gaya: Paintings related to the Jain, Sikh, Sufi, Ramayana and other circuits of spiritual importance and not only the Buddhist circuit may soon adorn the walls of Gaya airport.

The paintings will display the ancient rich culture of Bihar. Moreover, Madhubani paintings, Sikki art, terracotta and other paintings will also compete to grab the eyeballs of tourists from the airport walls. Work on the paintings is likely to start soon.

"There is also a plan to highlight the heritage sites of different circuits with their routes on the map of the state. The tourists will come to know about culture and the heritage of the state through these paintings," said Gaya airport director Dilip Kumar.

Work on implementation of the art plan has already started. "We are going to appoint an art curator who will prepare a detailed plan to slot the paintings according to suitable places. When tourists come to know about the featured places of Bihar apart from Bodhgaya, they will be tempted to visit those. It will ultimately boost tourism, earn revenue for the state and attract tourists," said the airport director.

An art gallery at the airport had already started in January 2016 where art pieces made by three artists have been displayed. The art gallery in the space provided by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in the terminal building was started with the motive to promote promising artists. AAI had to keep only 10 per cent of the price of each art piece as token money and the remaining amount of the sale price goes to the artist. Some art pieces have been sold from the art gallery. "In view of the projected tourist inflow, sales are likely to increase in future. We also plan to invite some more artists to keep their art pieces in the art gallery," the director said.

Magadh range deputy inspector-general (DIG) of police Ratn Sanjay on Friday inaugurated the art gallery and a medical clinic in the presence of the Gaya airport director.