Newly appointed Member Secretary at the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) Pradeep Dhakal has promised a new roadmap to transform the area into a spiritual tourist hub.

The Pashupati area attracts on average 15,000 visitors daily, earns Rs 125,000, according to Ramesh Upreti, executive director at the PADT. 

“I am working on a road map for developing this area as a spiritual tourist hub, keeping its Hindu religious values and norms intact,” said Dhakal, who was appointed to the post on Wednesday by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jitendra Narayan Dev. Dhakal replaced Govinda Tandan, who retired last month after serving the PADT for a decade. 

Dhakal, who holds a PhD degree in peace campaign for Hindu religion from Banaras Hindu University of India, also holds the position of general secretary at the Asia-Pacific Peace Research Association.