Group formed to pressure govt for Nepalgunj-Delhi flights

By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj, June 8: Entrepreneurs in Nepalgunj have formed a pressure group to lobby for the establishment of a direct air link between Nepalgunj and New Delhi 

A 16-member pressure group has been formed under the leadership of Tanka Bahadur Dhami, President of the Nepalgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI), to urge the government to commence flights between Nepalgunj and New Delhi.

The group is formed during a stakeholder discussion programme held in Nepalgunj, which was attended by the representatives from Banke’s industrial and business communities, political parties, civil society, police, administration and tourism sector. 

Members of the committee include Banke-based leaders Pashupati Dayal Mishra, Krishna Prasad Shrestha, Diwakar Khanal, Shriram Sigdel, Sudhanshu Koirala, Min Bahadur Malla, Prem Bahadur Shah, Rajendra Shrestha, Karishma Yogi, Uma Thapa Magar, Nandalal Vaishya, Nabin Giri, Rang Bahadur Khadka, Ashish Gupta and Bhim Bahadur Ranabhat (member secretary).

Coordinator Dhami, who is also President of the NCCI, stated that pressure would be maintained until the Nepalgunj–Delhi flight is launched. He said that Nepalgunj is not only the main city of Lumbini Province but also serves as a tourism gateway to Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces, making the direct flight route to Delhi essential.

Krishna Prasad Shrestha, Chair of the Tourism Promotion Forum Banke and a member of the group, noted that Indian pilgrims travelling to Mount Kailash in Tibet via Nepalgunj, as well as hundreds of Nepalis who travel daily to Delhi for medical treatment and business purposes, underline the necessity of this flight. 

Indian tourists also travel through Nepalgunj en route to Pokhara and Rara, further supporting the need for a Nepalgunj–Delhi air link.

Earlier, the NCCI had submitted formal requests to both the governments in Nepal and India.  

Speaking on the occasion, former Lumbini Province Minister Krishna KC 'Namuna', said that as Nepalgunj airport is currently undergoing upgrades and Buddha Air has already conducted a test flight, it is technically feasible. If the Government of India can be persuaded, the service could begin.

Meanwhile, Bal Kumar Singh, Acting Chief of the Civil Aviation Office in Nepalgunj, said that Nepalgunj Airport has the capacity to operate up to six international flights per day.