Muzaffarpur: The state government is all set to preserve and give a facelift to places in Muzaffarpur that Mahatma Gandhi visited or stayed in during visits in April 1917, 1920 and 1934.

The government is about take over the crumbling edifice of what was once a palatial house belonging to Gandhi's friend Gaya Prasad, better known as Gaya Babu. Gandhi had spent a few days at the house. The process is under way to assess valuation of the land, said a government official.

Gandhi Sanghralaya director Razi Ahmad was here recently to take stock of the condition inside Gaya Babu's house and explore possibilities of developing it into a memorable site. District magistrate Dharmendra Kumar Singh told The Telegraph he has recommended that places of historic importance vis-à-vis Gandhi be maintained and developed as a sightseeing destination for future generations. The state government has taken keen interest in creating awareness among the youth about Gandhi's visit here on his way to East Champaran for the satyagrah there.

There is a plan to establish a huge buggy (chariot) made of bronze outside the Muzaffarpur railway station in memory of Gandhi's visit to Muzaffarpur on April 10, 1917. Gandhi, Acharya J.P. Kripalani, then a history teacher at Langat Singh College, and Raj Kumar Shukla, a progressive farmer, who had arrived in a buggy to welcome Gandhi during his arrival at Muzaffarpur junction and stopover at the house of Gaya Babu.

On the state government's directive, district authorities have prepared a detailed plan to give a facelift to places of historic importance connected to the Mahatma's visit. There is even a plan to install a bronze statue of Gandhi bathing at Kup. The Mahatma had indeed taken bath near a well on the Langat Singh College campus. The well is rightfully called Gandhi Kup.

Professor Altamash Daudi said the government will install a bronze plate inscribed with a short history outside Shafi Manzil in Motijheel where Gandhi had visited freedom-fighter Shafi Daudi on December 7, 1920. A statue of Gandhi was installed outside the office of Langat Singh College principal in 1959. It will now be and decorated and an umbrella shade added, said Bhim Rao Ambedkar Bihar University vice-chancellor Amrendra Narayan Yadav.

Efforts are also on to renovate the sprawling premises of Hirdayasthali, on Tilak Maidan road. This was built by Gopal Krishna Gokhale on April 23, 1927. The government will set up a statue of Gandhi and Gokhle at Hirdayasthali from where Gandhi in 1934 supervised relief and rescue operations in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake in North Bihar.