About a decade after the local demand, an airport is going to be constructed in Sindhuli.
Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has decided to construct the airport near Kalyani temple of Kamala Mai Municipality-8 of the district after completing possibility study in the first phase.
Nal Bikram Thapa, Manager and senior engineer of CAAN stated that the preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) in the first phase for the construction of Sindhuli airport has been completed technically.
DPR has been prepared for constructing airport at 7, 34,038 sq.m area located near to Kalyani temple between Sisneri and Karkarey of Kamala Mai Municipality-8.
Architects Engineers, Planners and Project Management Consultants Nepal have prepared the DPR for the airport. Some technical tasks are being done by studying it.
“The construction work will be started soon after completing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA),” said Engineer Thapa.
According to Engineer Thapa, the estimated cost for constructing the airport is NRs 130 Million including 13 per cent VAT.
“However, the expense cost might increase as the airport will be constructed at bank of Kamla river and several works need to be carried out to make the proposed site suitable,” said Thapa.
The design aircraft for proposed airport is ‘ATR-72 d’ which will facilitate Sindhuli, Ramechhap, Okhadhunga, Kavre, Mahottari, Dhanusha and Udaipur districts.
In the statement, it has been mentioned that the runway of 1760m long and 30m wide will be constructed where 72 seated aircraft can take-off and land.
“The parking area of 600m long will be constructed,” said Thapa.
Nepal government has allocated NRs 5 Million for the construction of the airport. The necessary process for the construction of the airport was started in advance because of Former Agriculture Minister and Federal government, Hari Bal Gajurel.
The proposed site for the airport is located at 12 km away of Sindhuli Madhi headquater and 6km away of Bhiman Bazaar connected to BP highway. Simara Airport is 95 km away, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) is 85 km away and Lukla airport is 99 km away from Sindhuli Airport.
Local people are excited as the airport will be constructed in the district. Banepa-Bardiwas BP highway, Dharan-Chatara and Madan Bhandari highway are constructed in the district.
It has been expected that the construction of airport will decrease the accident rate occurred in this highway and also help in decrease traffic jam as VIP tourist, domestic and international tourists can travel by air services.
It has also been expected to be a suitable destination for tourists visiting Solukhumbu and Lukla after the construction of airport.
