A four-member team of World Bank officials visited Bodhgaya on Thursday as part of its plan to revive ancient Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

The team is at present conducting surveys of such sites, following which it would draw up an integrated development plan to bring the scattered sites in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh under a Buddhist circuit. The 13th Finance Commission has earmarked Rs 500 crore for the development, conservation and renovation of the Buddhist circuit sites.

Justin Yap, the programme manager of Investment Climate Advisory Services (ICAS), led the team. ICAS functions under International Finance Corporation, a unit of World Bank. The members of the team visited some places around Bodhgaya, including the world heritage Mahabodhi Mahavihara. Tourism specialist Mike Fabncuib and operation analyst Tara Bajaj, accompanied Yap.

Bodhgaya Nagar Panchayat executive officer Sushil Kumar Mishra told The Telegraph: “The team has sought copies of the city development plan and the master plan of Bodhgaya. It will be furnished to the officials within two days.” He added that Dhunge-shwari hills on the eastern side of the Falgu has also been included in the Buddhist circuit development plan.

The plan proposes conducting a geo radar survey, mapping, conservation and revival of ancient Buddhist sites around Bodhgaya. Excavation work will be carried out around Bodhgaya, wherever necessary. Another plan suggests construction of a 100-bed rest house for tourists at Dhungeshwari and Bodhgaya at an estimated cost of Rs 1 crore each. The World Bank team stressed the improvement of sanitation in Bodhgaya.

At present, the Buddhist circuit in Bihar includes Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Nalanda and Vaishali. On the other hand, several other sites like Barabar, Jethian, Gurpa in Gaya apart from several other places in Rajgir and Nalanda have to be developed under the Buddhist circuit plan.