Two proposals have been presented at the Investment Summit held at Kathmandu on 15th and 16th Chaitra for converting Dhangadhi Airport into a regional airport. The Investment Board Nepal (IBN) informed that two proposals came after the board published the deadline of 7th Baisakh. The time has now been extended to another 1 month.
IBN says that the present Dhangadhi Airport should be enhanced and renovated to the international level so that the flights to neighboring countries can be operated from Dhangadhi.
The estimated cost of the regional airport project is $258 million as it will be carried out under Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. This estimation is determined from the preliminary paper work.
The Detail Project Report (DPR) is yet to be prepared and the government will take the responsibility of investment security and land allocation.
As per IBN, the selected company for the project must conduct detailed probability check for 6 months while it has to prepare DPR within a year. IBN has expected the project will be completed within 3 years and the project authority will run it for 30 years and then hand over to the government.
The Dhangadhi Regional Airport will feature 3000 meter long and 60 meter wide runway while the taxiway will be of length 1800 meter and width 23 meter.
Dhangadhi Airport is the only big airport situated in the far western region which has facilitated citizens of 9 districts. With 30 meters wide and 1800 meters long blacktopped runway, it is the airport with the second long runway, after the Tribhuvan International Airport and it is also planned to be upgraded to an international airport, making Nepal’s fourth international airport.
