Patna: The tourism department will set up a tourist bungalow at Ziradei village in Siwan, the birthplace of the first President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad. State tourism minister Pramod Kumar made this announcement on Sunday which happened to be the birth anniversary of the former President.

The tourism minister was in Ziradei to take part in the anniversary function.

"I have directed the district administration to identify the piece of land and send a detailed proposal after which the tourism department will sanction funds for the tourist bungalow," Pramod told The Telegraph over the phone from Ziradei.

He said several people, including those doing research on the first President, come to Ziradei and availability of this facility would be of great help to them.

Ziradei is around 10km from Siwan town and the village is located around 3km off the national highway.

Pramod said his department would construct a huge gate along the highway with the name of Rajendra Babu on it so that tourists could easily reach the village. "I would also take up the matter with the road construction department for widening the road that connects Ziradei to the highway," added the tourism minister.

An audio tape of the message of the first President to the nation that was broadcast by the All Indian Radio, would be kept at the tourist bungalow in addition to some rare photographs related to his life, said Pramod.

The minister also took part in a programme at the local Mahendra Singh Inter College, where Rajendra Babu used to study, and school students were administered oath against the dowry system and child marriage. The school students gave a guard of honour to the minister.

December 3 also happens to be the foundation day of Siwan district which was curved out of Saran in 1972. The tourism minister inaugurated a programme organised by the district administration at the local Gandhi Maidan on this occasion and addressed a public meeting.