Falgunanda Airport situated in Illam will start its construction work soon. The airport construction was halted and not been started for a long time since its inauguration.
Nearly 10 years, after the process to construct the airport, Former Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal had laid the foundation stone for the construction in March 27, 2011 the airport has still not been fully constructed.
The airport is scheduled to undergo runway black-topping process and the airport project head has stated to invite tender process for the project.
Previously, a 19-seater twin-otter aircraft of Tara Air conducted successful test flight on June, 2018 at Falgunanda Sukilumba Airport however the work has not been done thereafter.
The runway of the airport has been constructed and the management of drainage system from airport zone to Maikhola has been completed and around NRs 50 million has been allocated in the current fiscal year for the black-topping work. Estimated design for paving the runway has also been completed.
The airport features 700 m long and 60 m wide runway which has become worst due to rainfall and intensive soil filing has been required on the airport until now. The project is set to pave the runway along with parking bay of 70 meter length and 30 meter wide.
Due to lack of adequate budget, there was delay in conducting the construction work and is expected that the establishment of airport will make it easy for residents of Mechi including Darjeeling and Sikkim.
Airport project head states that if the black topping of runway along with construction of terminal building and other can be completed then the airport can operate flights within a year.
Land acquisition work was done in the initiative of the local body and residents for the construction of the airport as the airport will spread over in three hundred 26 ropani areas.
The airport will serve the locals of the far eastern mountainous region along with the travelers to the hilly districts of Eastern Nepal and the tourist destinations of Darjeeling and Sikkim in India.
