Construction has not halted -Pokhara International Airport
Pokhara, ANN
The construction of national pride project Pokhara Regional International Airport, which is being built as a task of countrywide delight despite all the troublesome lockdown, is continuing.
According to Vinesh Munankarmi, head of the Pokhara Regional International Airport Construction Project, the airport is being constructed with the aim of connecting the tourist city of Pokhara with other cities of the world by direct air connectivity.
Giving information about the work progress of Pokhara International Airport, the project chief said that 58 percent of the work has been completed. He informed that work is underway to lay glass and tile under the terminal building and finishing of the tower.
Similarly, drinking water and sewerage works are also being carried out. The cemented slope of the runway, which is 2,500 meters long and 45 meters wide, has already been completed. He said that some works have been stopped due to shortage of human resource during the lockdown.
Transportation of required construction materials from India and China is being carried out difficultly due to lockdown and it has resulted the construction delay in given time frame.
He said that at present, there are necessary materials stucked at Kerung port of China and construction materials including electrical items at Kolkata port of India. He added the work wont get halted for next one month as they already stocked the materials for now.
Lockdown has not affected the works till now and all workers have taken special security measures for COVID-19 prevention during their duty time. No any workers are allowed to leave the construction area neither anyone are allowed from outside to enter the construction area.
He also said that the work would not be stopped if the construction materials from China could be brought regularly from Tatopani. It was informed that the work on the main road to the airport was stopped due to obstruction in delivery of cement from India.
Despite the agreement to be completed on July 10, 2021, the plan was being implemented with the aim of completing it six months ahead of schedule. CAMCE, a Chinese government-owned contractor, has started the construction of the airport in Pokhara Metropolitan City Ward No. 14 on August 2, 2016.
The government had awarded the contract to CAMCE on May 12, 2014 to build the airport. The construction company has to complete the construction of the airport on July 10, 2021 and hand it over to the Government of Nepal.
The airport is being constructed with the help of a Chinese loan of about NRs. 22 billion. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Boeing 757 and Airbus 320 or similar aircraft will be able to land at Pokhara Airport after the completion of the 4D model. The passenger capacity of the aircraft will be 192 on average when it arrives at the airport with a runway of 2500 meters.
