'Everyone's hand is needed to realize the vision of Vaibhav Virganj'

In the session hosted by journalist and columnist Chandra Kishore, Mayor Rajeshman Singh of Birgunj Metropolitan City said that the vision of Vaibhav Birgunj will be realized but it will not be possible with his own efforts alone.

'Birgunj residents have joined hands and started the transformation of Birgunj,' he said, 'There is still a lot to be done, we are embarking on a campaign to make the things inherited by Birgunj a greener. We have done it, it is important to bring this campaign to the end.'

Mayor Singh said that Birgunj is a city with potential and complained that they have inherited an industrial city and a financial city but they have not been able to realize it. "Neither the youth here have got jobs, nor have they got opportunities," he said, "What is the use of such a legacy."

He said that the DPR for the beautification of the Narasimha Bhagwan Mandir here, which has a 135-year-old history, is ready and going to the tender process. He said that the temple of the 7 sisters of Gahwa Mai is also going to be publicized and sanctified. He said that by developing Birgunj as a religious tourist spot, Indian tourists are going to stay at least 2 nights.

'We are trying to ensure that Birgunj is not just a transit to enter Nepal,' he said, 'For this we are creating an environment for Indian tourists to stay in Birgunj for 2 nights, for this, the work of opening the border till night and causing pain to Indian tourists should be stopped.'

Mayor Singh said that Birganj has inherited Bhojpuri language and culture, Birganj post Sugauli Treaty, religious harmony, tolerance, Shankaracharya entrance, Gahwamai Temple and Ghantaghar, etc.

President of National Medical College Birganj Dr. Zainuddin Ansari founded the college by the then Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai. He recalled that there was support. 'With his help, support and guidance, the vision of establishing a medical college in Birgunj was realized 25 years ago,' he said. He said that the college has succeeded in making Birgunj known in the country and abroad.

The college directly employs 2,000 people and 5,000 indirectly. Ansari said that he was successful in providing treatment to foreign patients as well. Claiming that the college has also increased the tourist activity of Birgunj. Ansari also said that he is willing to cooperate with the office of Birgunj Metropolitan Municipality in the health treatment of Birgunj residents.

In a different context, he said that the current government policy is not medical college friendly and accused that within 5 years, the government may take over or close the medical college itself.

Businessman Ravi KC said that in order to realize the dream of Vaibhav Birgunj, it should be possible to export the goods produced using local raw materials in Birgunj. He claimed that Nijgarh Airport and Nijgarh-Kathmandu Expressway will be operational in the near future. He said that the government should be a facilitator and not a businessman. "When the government makes policies and rules, they do not make them based on the industry," he said, "Imported raw materials and manufactured goods also have the same customs rate."

KC also said that the gap of trust between industrialists and employees has increased in recent days. "Industrialists are accused of being thieves and they only do tax evasion," he said, "Are industrialists second-class citizens."

Hotel and tourism businessman Neelam Singh said that in order to realize the dream of Vaibhav Birgunj, domestic tourism as well as Indian tourists should be created in Birgunj. "Birgunj was not only depicted as the economic capital and the gateway to the country," she said, "here should be an environment for tourists from India and third countries to stay."

Sih said that the hotel and tourism business is a national service industry and should be protected by the government. Lately, due to economic recession and unhealthy competition, hotels in Birganj She said the business is in trouble.