By Santosh Raut
Solukhumbu, Oct. 3: Two airports in the mountainous district of Solukhumbu have remained unused for years. Only two airports are in operation in the district. The district has five airports, the largest number of airport in a district in Nepal, and one is under construction.
The Kangeldanda airport, which is targeted at densely populated areas in the lower part of the district, has remained unused and turned into a pasture for the last seven years.
The Kageldada airport was constructed by investing tens of millions for the convenience of the citizens of Nechasalyan, Thulungdudhkoshi, Mahakulung, Sotang and some parts of Khotang.
Currently, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is deploying security guards to look after the airport. Member of State Assembly Uttam Kumar Basnet said that a plan to initiate flights from Biratnagar to Kangel by bringing the airport under the state government was yet to be materialised due to delay in works.
He said that initiation had been taken to resume the airport at the earliest as the road has been widened in the villages to reach Kangeldanda Airport and the construction of motorable bridges on the main rivers, including Dudhkoshi and Solukhola has started.
Similarly, flights to Syangboche Airport, the airport located in the highest point in Nepal, and one of the busy tourist areas of Solukhumbu, have been closed for the past 12 years. At present, no planes are being taken off and landed in the airport built some 60 years ago.
The airport is now being used by helicopters to transport goods. In the Khumbu area, food and other supplies are being flown to the airport by helicopters, but local passengers have to pay high fares to helicopter due to disruption in flights. Passengers travel by paying the fare at the rate of cargo.
Lama Kaji Sherpa, a tourism entrepreneur from Namche, said that the expansion of Syangboche Airport would reduce the flight pressure at Tenzing Hillary Airport in Lukla. The airport, located at an altitude of 3,007 meters above sea level, has not come into operation despite repeated requests from locals to bring it in operation.
Pasang Tshiring Sherpa of Khumjung said that the extension of the runway on the land in the area of Everest National Park would help in the development of tourism in the Khumbu region.
However, Phaplu Airport and Lukla's Tenzing Hillary Airport are in operation while Mahakulung Airport is under construction.