The fort at Buxar will be developed as a tourist attraction, chief minister Nitish Kumar said on Monday.

"Buxar is a historical place and the fort here will be renovated," Nitish said during his Nishchay Yatra in Buxar and Bhojpur districts. "We will send a team of officials for this. It will be developed as a tourist attraction."

Located close to the Ganga, the Buxar fort was built by king Rudra Deo in 1054. It is currently wallowing in neglect despite efforts by the archaeology department to conserve and strengthen its ramparts and protective features.

Nitish also visited ward No. 7 of Rajpur panchayat to inspect the works initiated there as part of his seven resolves, and addressed a public meeting. The ward has been declared free of open defecation, and all households there have got tap water and electricity connection. The lanes and drains have also been made pucca.

"Work on the seven resolves is progressing rapidly in the entire state," Nitish said. "Education and skill development of youth are also our priority areas. Bihar will become India's first state to provide tap water to all households."

SC and ST welfare minister Santosh Kumar Nirala, mines minister Muneshwar Chaudhary, chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh, director-general of police P.K. Thakur, Buxar district magistrate Raman Kumar and others accompanied Nitish in Buxar. Nitish inaugurated a herbal park at Sakhua village in Bhojpur and asserted that Bihar will set a global example in prohibition.