Suntharali airport at Kotwada inaugurated

By Prem Raj Simkhada,Kalikot, Feb. 27: Suntharali Airport at Kotwada in Naraharinath Rural Municipality of Kalikot district officially came into operation on Monday. The construction of the airport was initiated 39 years ago.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka and Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Sudan Kirati jointly inaugurated the airport. On the occasion, planes from Nepal Airlines and Tara Airlines had landed at the airport.

Deputy Prime Minister Khadka said that efforts had been made to connect all districts of Karnali Province via air routes by discussing it with the federal government. 

He said that decisions regarding regular flight operations to the airport would be made. 

Minister Kirati said that initially only one flight per week would be operated, although locals had demanded daily flights. He assured that locals’ demand would be fulfilled over time. 

Chief District Officer of Kalikot, Ganesh Nepali, said that locals were excited about the official inauguration of the airport which could not take place even after completing construction work for a year. 

Karnali Province Chief Minister Raj Kumar Sharma, former Chief Ministers Mahendra Bahadur Shahi and Jeevan Bahadur Shahi, Karnali Province lawmaker Hikmat Bahadur Bista and others were present on the occasion.