which intends to construct statues of maitreya buddha in india and perhaps elsewhere. initial plans were for a 152-metre (500 ft) colossal statue, to be built in either kushinagar or bodhgaya. these plans have since changed, and the maitreya project now intends to construct relatively modest statues in both towns. the project was initiated by the foundation for the preservation of the mahayana tradition, an organisation within the gelug school of tibetan buddhism.