Uncertainty of Surkhet regional airport persists even after budget allocation

BY RAJANI YOGI,Surkhet, June 13: For several years now, the issue of constructing a regional airport in Surkhet has been a recurring topic in nearly every government policy, programme, and budget. 

Despite this continued presence in official documents, the project has not yet been realised. Nonetheless, the federal government’s upcoming budget has once again included plans for a regional airport.

In the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2025/26, the federal government has announced its intention to develop a regional airport in Surkhet. Similarly, the Karnali Province government has outlined in its forthcoming policy and programme that it will coordinate with the federal government to upgrade and develop Surkhet Airport. 

However, uncertainty remains whether the federal plan refers to the existing airport in Birendranagar or the proposed site in Bheriganga.

Previously, a study was conducted for a proposed regional airport in Ramghat, Bheriganga Municipality. Both a pre-feasibility study and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) have been completed. Despite this, the project has not advanced. 

Every year, discussions resurface about building a regional airport in Surkhet, but the debate over whether to expand the current airport in Birendranagar or to construct a new one in Bheriganga continues to be divisive.

The Karnali Province government favours expanding Surkhet Airport to operate it as a regional facility. In contrast, the federal government appears to support constructing the proposed Bheriganga airport.

 To date, no regional airport has been built in Karnali Province. Political wrangling around the issue has hindered progress on the project. The provincial government has stated its intention to work in coordination with the federal government to move the plan forward. 

Regardless of location, the federal government must take the lead to initiate construction, said Vinod Kumar Shah, Karnali’s Minister for Land Management, Agriculture, and Cooperatives, and government spokesperson. He added that efforts will be made in the coming year to implement the plan.

The concept of building an international-standard regional airport in Bheriganga was introduced several years ago. 

According to Yagya Prasad Dhakal, Mayor of Bheriganga Municipality, preliminary studies have already been completed. He stated that initial steps for the airport construction in Ramghat began in 2020. The proposed airport will span Ward Nos. 6, 9, 10, and 11 of Bheriganga Municipality. Dhakal said that, as the community forests have already given consent and no private land acquisition is required, implementation would be relatively straightforward. The pre-feasibility study indicates the airport will feature a 2,700-metre-long and 45-metre-wide runway. The federal Cabinet has already granted approval in principle for the airport's construction in Bheriganga, Surkhet.