By Tara Chapagain, Pokhara, Sept. 11: The ongoing construction of the Pokhara Regional International Airport, a national pride project, has overall remained unaffected despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

The construction work is going on unstopped in spite of the lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the deadly virus.

Binesh Munkarmi, airport project chief, however, shared his worry that if they could not bring in some 200 Chinese workers who were working here earlier at the earliest, the project would not be complete in time.

The construction of the project had started from August 2, 2017 although the foundation stone of the project was laid on April 13, 2016.

The Exim Bank of China has provided the required 217 million US dollars, or about 22 billion Nepali rupees, for the construction of the airport under the concessional loan of the Chinese government.

The government had signed contract with CMC engineering company of China to build the airport on May 22, 2014.

After the completion of the 45 meter wide and 2,500 meter long runaway of the airport project, Boeing 757 and airbus 320 or the airplane of similar type can land and take off the airport, and these planes will have the capacity for 140-180 passenger.

Munkarmi said that the work inside the airport was being carried out by following all security and health standard so there was no fear of catching COVID-19 while working there.

Currently, the motor road, main road and terminal building have reached to the last stage, whereas, parking, runway, apron, taxi way, pipeline, transformer, lighting and cable works have been fully completed.

The work of soil cutting and filling is 95% completed and other, mechanical and electronics works are underway.

Likewise, structure and finishing work of 14 buildings is completed, where, work on three buildings is proceeding.

Until now, 63% construction work of the Pokhara Regional International Airport has been completed.