Agreement signed to transform Lumbini as centre of faith for people of all faiths

Broader Lumbini Development National Direction Committee and the Asia Pacific Exchange and Cooperation Foundation (APECF) have signed an agreement to develop Lumbini area as the ‘Vatican City’ and ‘Mecca’ of the Buddhists by formulating an integrated master plan.

UCPN (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is also co-chairman of the Committee, and Executive vice-chairman of the Hong Kong-based Foundation Xiao Wunan signed the MoU amid a function at Hotel Soaltee on Wednesday evening to go ahead with the master plan to build Lumbini as the World Peace City.

Though the details of the MoU is not known as it was not revealed to the press, it is learnt that the project would cost between US$ 3 to 5 billion. Most of the multi-billion budget would go on infrastructural development, including building roads, railway system, modern communication network, star hotels and international airport to metamorphose Lumbini into a modern satellite city.

The master-plan aims to develop Lumbini as a World Peace City , a centre of faith for people of all the faiths. nepalnews.com