BETTIAH, Jan. 16 -- Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is all set to begin his Samriddhi Yatra with a visit to Kumarbagh industrial area in West Champaran on the opening day, followed by a visit to the Virat Ramayana Temple at Kathawaliya in East Champaran district the next day, where a Shivling is scheduled to be installed on January 17. The CM's Samriddhi Yatra will begin on January 16 and conclude on January 24, with no official engagements scheduled for January 18. The CM will spend the first two days of the public outreach programme inspecting key projects and interacting with local stakeholders. The exercise is being viewed as an effort to showcase emerging infrastructure as well as the state's expanding religious tourism map. "He will visit the Kumarbagh industrial area to review the progress made by existing industrial units and also inspect developments related to the Special Economic Zone (SEZ). Besides, he will interact with local entrepreneurs," said Taranjot Singh, DM, West Champaran. Located about 9 km from Bettiah, the headquarters of West Champaran district, Kumarbagh-popularly known as the Kumarbagh Industrial Area-now houses around 40 industrial units engaged in food processing, textiles, steel processing, and paddy-based operations. The area also hosts a steel processing unit by SAIL. It has gained further prominence with the Centre's nod for an SEZ for 2024-25-along with the SEZ at Navanagar in Buxar-for which 125 acres have been acquired from Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA). The CM will lay the foundation stones for 125 schemes worth Rs.125 crore and inaugurate 36 projects worth Rs.29 crore on the opening day of his visit to West Champaran, an official statement said. Meanwhile, the East Champaran administration has declared the Virat Ramayana Temple at Kaithwaliya, the under-construction bridge over the Dhanauti River in Majuraha village, and a few other locations as Temporary Red Zones/No Drone Fly Zones from January 14 to January 18, 2026, in view of the CM's security arrangements. "Yes, the honourable CM is scheduled to visit the Virat Ramayana Temple as things stand today," said Saurabh Jorwal, DM, East Champaran. Situated on the Chakia-Kesariya road (NH-227A) is the Virat Ramayana Temple site, where the world's largest Shivling-210 tonnes in weight and 33 feet in height-is to be installed on January 17....