Bhagalpur, Sept. 23: Eastern Bihar Industries Association, a Bhagalpur-based forum of industrialists, has decided to initiate the development of tourism in this ancient historical silk city and its surroundings.

The association is scheduled to hand over a blueprint to state tourism minister Sunil Kumar ‘Pintu’, when he visits Bhagalpur on September 24.

President of the association Mukutdhari Agarwala said: “The body has been fighting for the development of the areas having historical, religious and cultural values. It has now decided to create pressure on the state tourism minister for a concrete solution to the long-pending demands placed by the body. Pintu is scheduled to visit Bhagalpur for the first time on Saturday.”

Agarwala said Bhagalpur and its surroundings have “the potential for maximum tourism and could easily be developed into a tourist spot”.

“We are going to hand over a memorandum to the minister and hope he takes an appropriate decision to convert the place into a tourist hub,” he said.

“The excavated site of Vikramshila Mahavihar should be attached with Buddha circuit. Champapuri and Mandar, which have religious significance with Jainism, should be attached with the Jain circuit,” he told The Telegraph.

Agarwala said if Bhagalpur is developed as a tourist hub, the ancient silk city would get a facelift. He also stressed the need to develop proper infrastructure, especially roads. “The state government should also take initiatives to start air services from the city to boost tourist inflow,” he said.