The technical team led by Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA has recommended Nagidanda of Banepa suitable for constructing an alternative domestic airport to reduce the air traffic congestion of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
The technical team studied four different sites of Kavre and has recommended Nagidanda of Banepa appropriate for constructing the new domestic airport.
In the consolidation of Engineer Kamal Kumar KC, Dhruvadas Mochimoya, Baburam Poudel, Suvarna Upadhyay, Sita Ram Bhandari and Nal Bikram Thapa, the report has been submitted to the Ministry. The committee has made this recommendation based on the earlier study at Nagidanda, Thulochaur of Dhulikhel, and Chisapani Thulechaur. The team has concluded that Nagidanda is suitable as per the economic, geographical situation where 600- 1200 meters runway can be constructed.
The report has mentioned to allocate five years of duration for completing construction work from the date of official declaration. It has suggested including immediate Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in order to advance its construction. After the airport comes in operation nearly 20 per cent air traffic will reduce at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
The proposed airport location at Nagidanda is 24.6 km away from TIA whereas 8.62 far in Nautical mile. As per the information, the construction work of Nagidanda airport could be commenced only after 12 months of the formal decision to build the airport.
The plan of constructing domestic airfield near TIA was started from 16 years ago, but still has not been able to take action. 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 Thulochour. 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.
