Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA), Rabindra Adhikari has announced to anyhow build a domestic airfield in Kavre as an alternative to the domestic section at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
In the interaction with the airport official about operating TIA for 21 hours a day from Jestha 7- May 21, Tourism Minister stated that the construction of alternative airport is mandatory.
Minister Adhikari also directed to manage effective flight schedule of internal flights and improve the air traffic.
As part of his 100 days’ work plan, Minister Adhikari directed to increase the operation time to reduce the high air traffic of the country and also directed to do it either by stopping the permission to new flights or by deducting the domestic flights.
As per the information, after a few days, the work of the internal flight to Kavre will also proceed.
Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has started preliminary study in both places for the construction of short takeoff and landing (STOL) airport: Nagidanda and Thulichour. The two places lie around 20 km and 35 km respectively in the southeast of Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). The proposed sites are located at an elevation of 1,800 meters above sea level.
According to the source, the government has estimated the investment of 3 billion for construction of the proposed new domestic airport that would have a 1,200-metre-long runway and would be constructed at an appropriate site after a final survey and detailed project report are completed.
