KATHMANDU: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Yogesh Bhattarai, has said preparations have been made to reopen religious shrines from October 17.

Speaking to journalists at Suketar Airport in Taplejung today, Minister Bhattarai, who reached his hometown, Taplejung, to inaugurate the Border Outpost (BOP) at Olangchungola, said that the government was making preparations to open religious and cultural sectors that have remained closed due to COVID-19.

He said that the proposal of opening religious sector would be taken in next Cabinet meeting and it would be gradually opened from October 17 if the proposal was endorsed.

He further stated that religious and cultural sites would be opened gradually from Dashain with health safety precautions.

Meanwhile, Minister Bhattarai this morning inaugurated the BOP at Olangchungola.

He expressed the view that security challenges seen at border area with China would be reduced with the establishment of BOP.