Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) informed that Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) which is currently under construction will be operating from coming June, 2019.
According to the authority, the runway, taxiway, parking and apron attained 58 per cent of the physical progress. The construction work of the runway of international airport will be completed in the month of June while the domestic flights will be conducted from the same runway whereas the process is being carried out for taxiway to be constructed at current Pokhara airport.
Though the construction work is carried out at speed however, there is no clear decision made yet for the date of airport operation.
Ministry of Finance has sent letter to CAAN to work for G to G (Government to Government) agreement by recognizing the competing and appropriate company to operate government-owned airport. Similarly, international finance companies have opened the way to offer a proposal from international private sector for the consulting service.
At the same time, CAAN said that the work given by MoF has already been completed and has identified capable and suitable company to operate a government owned airport. The authority has been preparing to arrange agreement for the operation and management of the airport.
In case if international companies fails to come Nepal according to two options given by the Ministry till June then CAAN informed to operate GBIA by itself. “We are operating Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) at the present and we have that capacity to operate GBIA as well. So if international companies do not get involved, we are preparing to run GBIA by ourselves, said Sanjeev Gautam, Director General of CAAN.
Director General Gautam informed that letters have been sent to all the government bodies required for the operation of GBIA to be ready to establish their services in Bhairahawa. The concerned bodies related to all services including quarantine post, security post, Immigration office, catering have been informed.
Nepal Oil Corporation is going to establish aviation fuel depot at Bhairahawa as Gautam Buddha International Airport. Official of the corporation stated that the demand of the fuel will increase as soon as the airport comes in operation thus the corporation will be setting up temporary depot which can hold up to 2000 kiloliter of fuel.
