Patna, Dec. 15: Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (BUIDCo), the agency responsible for the upkeep of Buddha Smriti Park in the state capital, is working on a war footing to finish most of the remaining work at the iconic park.

Apart from the repair work at the central stupa and construction of the multi-level parking, most of the other remaining work have either been finalised or are in the final stages.

The cancellation of the arrival of the Dalai Lama in Patna during the Kalchakra festival has also apparently allowed the authorities to buy more time for a permanent solution to the faults that had earlier surfaced at the stupa. The work would now be finalised within January 31, 2012.

The heavy rainfall during the monsoon this year had revealed the faults that had surfaced at the 200ft-high stupa called Patliputra Karuna Stupa of Buddha Smriti Park, a dream project of chief minister Nitish Kumar to attract Buddhist tourists from across the globe.

Water seeped in through the stupa’s dome, compelling the authorities to keep buckets under the holes.

The Telegraph, in its July 16, 2011, edition had reported about the fissures.

Apart from the seepage, the contractor, Parshwanth Developers Limited, in spite of direction from BUIDCo officials, did not remove the shutter and the cloth ceiling.

Later, acting on the remedial measures suggested for the stupa by a team from Indian Institute of Technology and Banaras Hindu University, BUIDCo had floated tenders in the first week of November to engage a third party for the completion of the repair work. The deadline for the work was fixed as December 15, which was in consideration with the likely arrival of the Dalai Lama in last week of December.

“It was because of the expected arrival of the Dalai Lama in Patna during the Kalchakra festival that we were asked to finalise all the remaining work at Buddha Smriti Park by December 15,” said a senior BUIDCo official.

“However, the corporation was later informed that the Dalai Lama’s visit has been cancelled. The consultant appointed for water-proofing and other repair work at the stupa also requested that the work should not be carried out in haste. Accordingly, the work is now expected to be completed by January 31 next year,” he added. The corporation has procured the fabric to be used for the new false ceiling at the stupa.

While the tourists to the park would be allowed entry inside the central stupa only after January 31, they can definitely start booking the meditation hall inside the park by second the week of January.

“The remaining work at the mediation hall has been completed. However, its booking would only start from the second week of January. The work on the museum has also been completed and the objects to be kept inside are yet to arrive,” said the official.

The civic body has declared the road in front of the park as a no-parking and no-vending zone. Work on the footpath and the drainage line along the boundary wall of the park has also been finalised. “We have also arranged a flowerbed along the boundary wall of the park. Work on putting chromium and steel plates on the wall near the boundary is on,” the official added.