The Buddhist Conclave starting next month has been extended by a day and foreign delegates would visit Patna on October 1, said tourism minister Sunil Kumar “Pintu” on Tuesday.

The minister was in the city to review preparations for the three-day conclave with officials of the Gaya district administration and representatives of Buddhist monasteries of different countries. He said around 275 representatives from 30 countries are likely to participate in the Buddhist Conclave that will be inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav at Sarnath near Varanasi. The guests will arrive at Bodhgaya on September 30 and then proceed to Patna on October 1.

The Telegraph had reported on July 28 that the conclave, being organised by the Union tourism ministry, would start on September 29.

At the review meeting, the minister discussed preparation for the proposed visit of the Dalai Lama at Buddha Smriti Park in Patna on January 5. He added that a review meeting on local problems, including that of Buddhist monastery representatives, would be held every three months.

Although preparations for the 17-day Pitripaksh Mela was not discussed, the minister had told The Telegraph on Monday that the state government would set up kiosks of various departments on the campus of Gaya railway station to assist pilgrims reaching the town for the mela that would begin on September 30.

He said different departments would set up their kiosks for the convenience of pilgrims coming to Gaya for pinddaan.

On Tuesday, he also met Gaya district magistrate Bandana Preyashi, who is also the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee chairperson, and senior superintendent of police Vinay Kumar to discuss pending tourism projects in the district and security arrangements for the delegates at the Buddhist Conclave.

On the ropeway project from Riverside Road near Rajapur to Dhungeshwari on the eastern end of the Falgu, “Pintu” said the project was pending because the forest department has not given clearance to fell trees in the area to construct the ropeway.

Divisional forest officer Alok Kumar said: “No such proposal to fell trees for the ropeway has been submitted to my office. Once a proposal is submitted, the department will look into the matter.”

The Bodhgaya civic administration had passed the ropeway project last year.