The government has planned to construct regional level airport at Surkhet, the capital of Karnali state. Possibility study started in Surkhet about a decade ago, with a plan to make international level airport in the mid-Western development zone however, it was terminated after the project being expensive.
A Feasibility Study was conducted in three places of UttarGanga, Ramghat and Maidanchaur for proposing international airport at Surkhet. Among them, the ‘Maidanchaur’ situated in the Veriganga municipality, was considered to be suitable for the airport.
According to Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the plan of constructing regional level airport is prepared after closing the plan of constructing the international level airport.
The government must spend at least 10 billion rupees to make regional level airport. Sanjeev Gautam, Director General of CAAN, said that there is possibility of constructing 2600m runway. He also informed that if the construction work is initiated then the work will be completed within the next five years.
The constructing project of airport at Surkhet is not included in the current budget plan. Minister of Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation, Rabindra Adhikari assured that though the plan has not included in the current budget but it would be included in the budget preparation by CAAN.
Keeping the Karnali region in the first priority for the tourism sector, Minister Adhikari assured the government will expedite necessary infrastructure development in the region.
