Agreement to expedite Majhgaun Airport construction process

Kathmandu, Feb 14: A high-level meeting convened at the Ministry of Home Affairs today agreed to immediately accelerate the construction of stalled Majhgaun Airport in Mahendranagar of Kanchanpur district.

The meeting chaired by Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak included relevant ministers, secretaries and Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) who decided to resolve the longstanding issues, especially one related to the land issues hindering the airport's construction.

It may be noted that the Airport was in operation since 2034 BS. It was shut down in 2057 BS due to security concerns amid emergency period during the conflict.

Today's meeting agreed on allowing six bigha of land owned by Nepali Army within the Shuklaphanta National Park for construction of airport and permitting to build a football ground and a military residential building within the Park area.

Minister Lekhak, during the meeting, emphasized urgency to iron out the outstanding issues and accelerate the construction of the airport. 

A contract was signed in 2078 BS to reconstruct the Airport. The blacktopping of the 1,300-metres runway is nearing completion. 

The construction work was in limbo after failing to forge a consensus on the acquisition of the land towards the south of the proposed airport site.

Minister Lekhak informed that a team involving representatives of all concerned agencies would be sent to Mahendranagar to begin construction of runway immediately.

According to him, discussions were held at different stages to reach agreement prior to today's meeting. "But today's agreement has given a surety about taking forward the airport construction process," the Minister added.

The meeting agreed to carry on the environmental impact assessment so as to prompt the construction work. 

Likewise, Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel said that there was no more disagreement on the use of the land owned by the Nepali Army. 

During the meeting, he had demanded that the Nepali Army should be allowed to build a football ground in the open area within the park and construct a residential building. 

Ministers and secretaries and officer-bearers of government agency are said to remain positive towards the proposition of the Nepali Army.

With the agreement reached today, the construction process of airport is now set to proceed.

 Bhimdutta Municipality is going to chip in 15 per cent of the total construction cost while Dodhara-Chandani Municipality is contributing 10 per cent for the same.

Also, the Sudurpaschim Provincial government is going to invest 25 per cent and the Civil Aviation Authority remaining 50 per cent.

The construction work is expected to be completed within three years. (RSS)