Bhagalpur district magistrate Adesh Titarmare has assigned district land acquisition officer Rajiv Ranjan Singh to search for a suitable 500-acre plot for the proposed Vikramshila Central University near Vikramshila Mahavihara.

On January 13, Titarmara received a letter from additional secretary, education, Senthil Kumar, in which he communicated that the central government had sought the plot.

He asked Adesh to submit the report within January 25 after the selection of the plot to be sent to the Centre for further approval.

Earlier, Vinay Sheel Oberoi, secretary, ministry of human resource department (higher education) wrote to Bihar chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh about release of a Rs 500-crore fund for the proposed central university.

The HRD ministry asked the Bihar government to ensure it provides a 500-acre plot.

Oberoi mentioned in the letter about a Rs 500-crore package announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ara before the Assembly elections.

Modi had announced a Rs 500-crore package for the proposed Vikramshila Central University and revival of Vikramshila Mahavihara.

Sourcres said after a green light from the Bihar government about the availability of required land, the ministry's site selection committee would inspect the plot and approve it.

Sources in the Bhagalpur district administration said earlier the tourism department had acquired 12 acres at Antichak village, near the excavated site of the ancient world university for renovation and other work.

"It would be difficult to get plot very close to the excavated site but land could be arranged at Ramjanipur Bargama, near Vikramshila. The plot belongs to the Bihar Industrial Development Authority and is lying abandoned. The Bihar government could propose the central government to establish the proposed university on the plot," a source said.

The development related to the proposed central university has generated much hope among residents and social organisations fighting for the cause of the ancient Vikramshila Mahavihara.

"This varsity will be very beneficial. It would pave the way to include the Vikramshila Mahavihara into the Buddha circuit for which we having fighting since long," said Pawan Kumar Choudhary, an expert on Vikramshila affairs.

Ramashanker Dubey, vice-chancellor, Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, said the proposed varsity will be helpful for students from the eastern region.

"With the proposed central varsity, the lost glory of the ancient seat of learning will be revived," he said.