Top priority is to operate two international airports: Tourism Minister

Kathmandu, Nov 9: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey said he has placed top priority to bring into operation the Bhairahawa based Gautam Buddha and Kaski based Pokhara International Airports.     

Issuing a press release today, Tourism Minister Pandey made it clear that he has accorded first priority to the operation of Bhairahawa and Pokhara airports after taking charge of the post of minister.     

"Immediately after I assumed charge of the ministry, we put the operation of these two airports in the first priority and proceeded with the work process accordingly", he said, adding, "We formed a suggestion committee with representatives of the concerned ministries and decided to reduce the fuel price and exempt tax on the basis of the recommendations of the same committee. As a result, the current flight has become possible”.     

He also informed that international chartered flights were operated at Pokhara International Airport this week and efforts were underway to operate more flights at the airport as well. Minister Pandey has invested a huge amount of capital in the airport.     

Minister Pandey stressed the need for development of inter-linked infrastructures, including transport hotels and immigration labour, for the full operation of the airports with huge capital investment.     

Stating that it may take some time for all these infrastructures to be placed, passengers and airlines to get used to it, he said the government was committed to complete all these works in a step by step manner.     

Tourism Minister Pandey said it would take some time for a mega development project like the international airport to come into full operation. "Although the construction of Bhairahawa Airport has been completed, there were technical problems such as operating equipment like Instrumental Landing System (ILS) and needing permission from neighbouring friendly country India for easy air route and these issues are still under discussion," he said.(RSS)