Patna: The Bihar government on Tuesday approved the tourism department proposal to construct a multi-purpose "Prakash Kendra and Udyan (Prakash centre and garden)" in Patna at a cost of Rs 51 crore to cater to devotees who come to Takht Sri Harimandir Sahib.

The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Nitish Kumar.

Brijesh Mehrotra, principal secretary, cabinet secretariat, said: "The building construction department has been given the task to get the project completed and authorised to nominate an implementation agency for it." The nod follows a sanction for the multi-purpose centre and garden by the Union ministry of culture, which provided Rs 25.44 crore of the sanctioned Rs 51 crore to Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation. "The centre and garden will come up near Kangan Ghat. Land has been made available," tourism department director Ashok Kumar Singh said.

Tourism department officials said the multi-purpose centre will be based on the life of Guru Gobind. It will include an exhibition hall, Khanda Sahib or the symbol of the Sikh religion, gates named after Baba Ajit Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, tourism information centre, multi-media centre, guard room, toilets among other things. A beautiful garden is also the part of the plan.

A senior tourism official said the project will be completed within 18 months and prove to be of great help to devotees coming to Patna.

The state government is of the opinion that the number of pilgrims coming to Patna will increase in the coming years after the resounding success of Prakash Parv celebrations.