February 8: The government is preparing an integrated plan to develop tourism infrastructures in Khaptad, a scenic pasture land in far-western Nepal.
The Investment Board Nepal (IBN) on Wednesday issued  a 15-day notice seeking the proposals for conducting a feasibility study for an integrated tourism project and a long-term plan for the development of Khaptad.
The notice states that the interested parties can submit the proposal online. Once the proposal is selected, the successful bidder will be given one year period for conducting the feasibility study and preparing a long-term plan.    
The Investment Board had showcased this project during the International Investment Summit organized by the government organized in March 2019. As per the project bank details prepared for the investment summit, the cost of integrated tourism and transport infrastructures construction was estimated to be around US$ 187 million.    
The board had developed a plan for the construction of a seven-km long cable car from Jhigrana Post of Doti district to the Khaptad National Park office. Similarly, other infrastructures planned for this project were the establishment of two-star hotels, golf course, yoga and meditation centres, horse riding arena, helipad, sky diving service among others.    
The project will be run in public-private partnership model, the board said. (With inputs from RSS)