Former Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal had laid the foundation stone for the construction in March 27, 2011, nearly 10 years after the process had begun but the construction work has not yet completed for Falgunanda Airport.
Due to lack of adequate budget, there was delay in conducting the construction work of Falgunanda Sukilumba airport in Illam.
It is expected that the establishment of airport will make it easy for residents of Mechi including Darjeeling and Sikkim.
The runway of the airport has been constructed and the management of drainage system from airport zone to Maikhola has been completed. Though NRs 5 crore has been allocated in the current fiscal year for the construction work, the work has not started yet.
According to Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), so far Rs 180 million has been spent for the construction of the airport.
An additional Rs 150 million is required to gravel and blacktop the Falgunanda Sukilumba Airport, said Engineer Pushpa Neupane. If required budget is provided then the construction work will be completed within 3 years, he added.
Previously, A 19-seater twin-otter aircraft of Tara Air conducted a test flight on June, 2018 at Falgunanda Sukilumba Airport. This was the first successful test flight ever carried out by domestic airlines after the airport was built in Ilam district.
The runway become worst due to rainfall and intensive soil filing has been required on the airport until now. The airport features 700 m long and 60 m wide runway.
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.
