LALITPUR: The Pro-Poor Urban Regeneration Pilot Project (PURPP) started by Lalitpur Metropolitan City in a bid to alleviate poverty in city area in the metropolis through tourism has started paying off.

Launched in the metropolis ward 16, 18, 21 and 22 under the Japan Social Development Fund of the World Bank, it aims to reduce poverty by protecting and conserving cultural and archaeological heritage, promoting cultural handicrafts professionally and developing cultural tourism.

A participation-based plan of action has been identified as per the target and 76 percent of the programme is being run in the local level, said chief executive officer of the metropolis Hari Prasad Dahal at a programme in Lalitpur on Wednesday.

The metropolitan city has also brought various programmes to prolong the stay of tourists visiting the area.

Likewise, as part of the project, the metropolis has also launched various income generating programmes based on tourism and cultural skills targeting approximately 3,000 living below poverty line in the first phase in the area, he said.