The Government of Nepal is set to station tourist police in the Rara Lake area to enhance the security of both domestic and international visitors. On Friday, the Department of Tourism and Chhayanath Rara Municipality signed an agreement to establish a tourist police unit in Rara, home to Nepal’s largest and deepest lake.

As per the agreement, signed by the department’s Director Leeladhar Awasthi and the municipality’s Chief Administrative Officer Pashupati Shahi, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, along with the Department of Tourism, will oversee the deployment, staffing, and operations of the tourist police in coordination with the municipality.

Chhayanath Rara Municipality has committed to providing necessary infrastructure, including housing, drinking water, and electricity, to facilitate the stationing of tourist police. Besides the lake, Rara is home to religious sites, mountains, and caves, but many visitors feel unsafe exploring these remote areas alone.

The deployment of tourist police is expected to improve security, encourage tourists to visit these sites freely, and extend their stay in the region. "A longer stay means improved economic opportunities for local communities," said Shahi.

Mayor Bishnu Kumar Bham added that efforts are underway to finalize a location and arrange essential facilities for the tourist police, ensuring their deployment at the earliest. -- RSS