Lumbini's development and Gautam Buddha Int'l Airport at government's top priority: Minister Bhattarai

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Yogesh Bhattarai, has said that the government has put development of Lumbini and Gautam Buddha International Airport at top priority.

Inspecting the under construction Gautam Buddha International Airport at Bhairahawa of Rupandehi today, Minister Bhattarai said that activities are underway with top priority as Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has given special concern for the construction of Lumbini International Airport and development of Lumbini.

He claimed that construction work of the airport would be completed within December. Saying there would not be any delay in construction activities of the airport in any pretext, the Tourism Minister said that the local level should provide construction materials required for airport.

He further said that he has directed the bodies concerned to complete the construction work of airport before 2020 as Nepal is going to celebrate Visit Nepal Year in 2020.

Minister Bhattarai underscored the need of making Lumbini beautiful to attract tourists.

Briefing Minister Bhattarai about ongoing construction works of the airport, Chief Engineer of Lumbini International Airport Construction Project, Prabesh Adhikari, said that construction of the airport would be completed on time if there is no shortage of construction materials.

Minister Bhattarai, who arrived in Rupandehi for the first time after his appointment to the post, also visited different places including Ramgramof Nawalparasi and Devdaha, the maternal and inlaws home town of lord Buddha.