National pride project Pokhara International Airport Project construction has achieved around 40% of physical progress.
The international airport project in Pokhara has already completed the construction of the runway and construction of other infrastructure is also going on gradually. One of the project engineers has stated the construction work has been carried out with aim to complete it by July 10, 2021.
With almost one fourth of the work being completed, land acquisition work has still not been completed. Airport project still requires around 100 ropani land stated an airport project official.
For the sustainable operation of the airport, more infrastructure is required to be constructed thus the airport project still require ropanies of land.
Airport site requires more land on southern side and the issues has been raised at concerned places also. However, no any solid decision form government has hindered the process to acquire more lands.
To acquire more lands, settlements around has to be shifted thus there has been delay in progressing the land acquisition work.
To increase the infrastructure, around 400 ropanies land is being required however, at current condition, for installation and construction of approach light, Fuel depot, Helipad, Hanger, security camp etc. around 120 ropani of land is required.
The work of runway construction completed on May and the work of taxiway is also being carried out. At the same time, the terminal building of airport, apron, drainage and Hangar construction and other infrastructure of the project are going on.
The airport will have the runway of 2500 meters long and 45 meters wide where Airbus A320, Boeing 737 and Boeing 757 can operate flight. The Airport will have a 1200 meters long and 23 meters wide taxi-way which connect the runway with hangars, terminals and parking bays. The airport will have a 10,000 square-metre international terminal building and a 4,000 square-metre domestic terminal building.
The construction project of the international airport was started with loan assistance of 22 billion from Exim Bank of China and Chinese company CAMC engineering was awarded for the contract of construction work.
Construction of Pokhara International Airport (at Chinnedanda-3 km to the east of Pokhara’s present domestic airport) was inaugurated with placing foundation stone by then Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli on April 13, 2016.
The new airport is intended to provide regional, domestic and international passengers with additional flight services over the current airport to encourage tourism in the Pokhara region, which is one of the popular tourist destinations in Nepal along with to minimize air traffic prevailing at country’s sole international airport Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
