Construction of Cargo building at Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) has begun.
Rabindra Adhikari, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) has inaugurated the construction work of cargo building, which is an important part of the airport.
According to project plan, the agreement has been signed with Sharma-Lumbini-Gajurmukhi JV in worth NRs. 100 Millions with the aim of completing within 2 years time frame. The building will be constructed at 8000 square meters area.
Prabesh Adhikari, Project Chief Engineer stated that the cargo building will be constructed under international standard at an intermediate level.
According to him, a bridge will be constructed at the middle of apron and cargo building as Ghagara river lies in between making an access to pass aircraft. He also said that the documents have reached the upper body as NRs. 9 Billion amount is left for land compensation, adding that compensation will be disbursed soon after the withdrawal of funds.
Tourism Minister has directed to speed up the construction work to complete 4 months earlier before deadline.“ Though the contractor has committed to complete work in 18 months but we have added 2 months and directed to complete the construction by 20 months,” he added. Minister Adhikari announced to provide bonus to the contractor if the construction work is completed within time-frame.
He also informed that although the airport will be ready on August 2019, construction work continued as per the plan to commence operation in September, 2019.
All the work is progressing well, he added. If the work is carried out as per the plan then 60 years later, GBIA will be another international airport of Nepal.
The proposal has already been sent to make GBIA a base hub to operate flights to countries like Sri Lanka, Myanmar, China, Cambodia, adding that there is no problem in conducting the flight operation after GBIA is ready.
He said that this area will be the biggest tourist destination of Nepal and will be economically developed as a sub-state after coming to the airport.
The airport already has an alternative cargo building whereas the construction of new cargo building will be completed in 2 years will not obstruct in the operation of the airport.
He assured local people about distributing land compensation within 1 and half months after receiving sufficient funds from the government.
