Chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi inaugurates the Tapovan Mahotsav in Gaya on Wednesday. Picture by Suman

Chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Wednesday said he would ask Narendra Modi what is in store for Bihar in February, when the NDA government completes nine months at the Centre.

In Tapovan, around 50km east of Gaya town, to inaugurate a daylong cultural festival, Manjhi said: “The Narendra Modi government has completed eight months. After the government completes nine months, I will ask him what is in the offing for Bihar.”

The chief minister was in the town to inaugurate the first Tapovan Mahotsav. At the event, Manjhi touched upon several issues such as boost to the state’s tourism prospects and plans for Tapovan.

He announced the tourism department would spend Rs 500 crore to promote the sector.

“Earlier, only three mahotsavas (including Bodh Mahotsava and Rajgir Mahotsava) were organised in Bihar but now, 15 such festivals would be celebrated in different times of the year across the state, said the chief minister.

For Tapovan, too, he had several announcements, including beautification of four hot water kunds, construction of a park and setting up of a police station and a primary health centre. “Rs 90 lakh have already been spent on these projects, while another Rs 3.6 crore would be utilised. A four-lane road connecting Tapovan with Wazirganj, Kurkihar and Rajgir would also be constructed. Work on it would start soon. I also want to make a film city in Bodhgaya or, if possible, in Tapovan like that being made in Rajgir at an estimated cost of Rs 300 crore,” Manjhi said.

He also demanded the Bharat Ratna for the late Dashrath Manjhi, popularly called the Mountain Man for single-handedly carving out a 22km road through a mountain in the Gehlaur valley.

The festival also brought a lot of joy for the people of Tapovan and its adjoining areas. They were treated to a performance of Bollywood playback singer Anuradha Paudwal.

Paudwal performed bhajans, Chhath songs and the title track of Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978) and Na jaane kahan dil kho gaya… from the Aamir Khan and Madhuri Dixit-starrer Dil (1990).

Dinesh Kumar Singh, a farmer in Jethian, around 3km from Tapovan, said: “In Tapovan, there are four hot water kunds named Sanak, Sanandan, Sanatan and Sant Kumar. A lot of people come here on Makar Sankranti and other festivals for a dip in the kunds. It is believed that one dip in the kunds cures all skin diseases.

Gaya district magistrate Sanjay Kumar Agarwal said elaborate arrange- ments had been made for the mahotsava.