Patna: Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) and Welcomhotel (ITC group) signed an MoU in the presence of CM Samrat Choudhary on Tuesday for the operation of Hotel Ajatshatru in Rajgir.The hotel will be operated under the Welcomhotel by ITC brand. “This hotel is set to elevate Bihar’s tourism sector to new heights,” the CM said on the occasion.Deputy CMs Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav, along with minister Kedar Prasad Gupta; managing director of ITC Group Anil Chaddha; Kalsi Buildcon’s director Sumit Singh Kalshi; chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit; development commissioner Mihir Kumar Singh and tourism secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh were present on this occasion.A presentation was made and it was agreed to complete this project and operationalise it by March 1, 2027.Spanning approximately 2.67 acres, the hotel will feature 104 modern rooms, a grand banquet hall, and world-class hospitality amenities. In addition to creating new employment opportunities for local youth, this project will further strengthen the global profile of key tourist destinations such as Rajgir, Nalanda, and Bodh Gaya, the CM said.This initiative will create numerous new opportunities for employment and self-employment for the region’s local youth, he added.