Railway demanded to connect Lumbini

By Our Correspondent, Bhairahawa, Aug,1: People residing near Lumbini and around it have requested the authorities undertake the project to construct a railway to connect the birthplace of Lord Buddha with the rest of the nation.

Nepal had signed the Belt and Road Initiative agreement with China in 2017 but due to several reasons, the authorities here have failed to undertake several infrastructure projects based on the BRI agreement. 

However, the people of Lumbini have urged the authorities to build infrastructure such as railway lines under this project.

The people of Lumbini and others also participated in a sapling plantation programme held on the eve of the 68th year of the formalisation of Nepal-China diplomatic ties. Nepal China Friendship Society Lumbini organised the sapling plantation in Bhairahawa where various species of saplings were planted.

On the occasion, the chief abbot of the Chinese Temple in Lumbini, Hui Ben, said that he was very happy to pray for peace in Lumbini, the holy land of world peace. 

He said that China wants peace in the world and he wished for peace in Nepal too.

Narayan Prasad Sapkota, president of Nepal China Friendship Society, said that his organisation has been holding various creative programmes on the important occasions in China to further expand Nepal's relationship with China and played a role in promoting tourism in Lumbini. 

He said that Nepal China relationship has deepened further following the Chinese President's visit to Nepal in 2019. 

Sapkota wished for the good health of the Chinese President and the people and wished that people to people relationship between the citizens of both nations would be further consolidated.

At the programme, Bhairahawa Multiple Campus Chief Anil Kumar Jha, Research Director of Lumbini Buddha University, Dr Geetu Giri, President of Siddhartha Sahitya Parishad Dilliraj Bhattarai, General Secretary Manish Joshi, Professor Indra Bahadur Thapa and others discussed the importance of Nepal-China ties as well as the significance of tree plantation in environmental protection.