Patna: CM Samrat Choudhary on Sunday asked officials concerned to prepare an educational tour circuit for schoolchildren linking Patna’s iconic landmarks, including Bapu Tower, Bihar Museum, Patna Museum and Science City. The directive came during his visit to the six-storey Bapu Tower in the Gardanibagh area of the state capital.While touring different floors of the tower, Samrat asked building construction department secretary Kumar Ravi to coordinate with the tourism department and the art and culture department to ensure maximum footfall and improved facilities for visitors at Bapu Tower.
He said the initiative would help people, especially schoolchildren, understand the works, thoughts and ideals associated with Mahatma Gandhi in a comprehensive manner.After viewing exhibits displayed across various floors, Samrat said Bapu Tower stands as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi’s enduring legacy. He said the structure had been built well and was both visually appealing and useful for the public. “The younger generation as well as visitors from other parts of the country would be able to gain a deeper understanding of Gandhi’s life, ideals and philosophy through the tower,” the CM said.He also said historical events from Gandhi’s life, his thoughts, his role in the freedom struggle, his connection with Bihar and his ideals had been effectively highlighted and presented at the tower.The Bapu Tower complex comprises two interconnected buildings — a circular six-storey tower and a rectangular five-storey structure. The tower rises 120 feet and is dedicated to the life and ideals of Mahatma Gandhi. An official said it is the first structure of its kind in India with a copper-clad exterior, using around 40 to 42 tonnes of copper. With natural oxidation over time, the copper surface develops varying rainbow shades. The campus spreads over seven acres, while the built-up area of the buildings is about 10,503 square metres.Samrat also asked tower officials, including director Vinay Kumar, to increase greenery in and around the premises. Earlier, he visited the ground floor and the first to fifth floors, examined exhibits in different galleries and took detailed information about the arrangements. Kumar Ravi and Vinay Kumar welcomed him with bouquets and a memento on arrival.Soon after reaching the premises, the chief minister paid floral tribute to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. He also watched a film on Gandhi’s biography, ideals and works, along with Bihar’s glory. Samrat later released the journal “Satyagrah – Bapu Tower Ka Prakashan” and said it should be digitised for wider public access.Later, he flew to Deoghar in Jharkhand and offered prayers at Baba Baidyanath Dham temple for Bihar’s happiness, peace and prosperity. Earlier in the day, he met public representatives, party workers and dignitaries at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat at 4, Deshratna Marg.
