Minister for Commerce & Industry Civil Aviation, India Mr. Suresh Prabhu has assured Mr. Rabindra Adhikari, Minister of Culture, tourism and Civil Aviation about providing new air routes to Nepal.
During Minister Adhikari’s visit in India for Global Aviation Summit, Minister Prabhu stated they are positive about providing new air routes.
Global Aviation Summit was held on 15 and 16th January in Mumbai, India. Various Aviation Ministers and officials from around the world gathered at the summit.
Prabhu told Minister Adhikari that they are coordinating with other ministry about the issue.
India has been ignoring the process to provide new routes though ministry level agreement has already been made. They have been delaying the process stating defense issue as Indian army has set up their defense camp.
During bilateral meeting with Hon. Suresh Prabhu yesterday, ministers from both country discussed on sideline of Global Aviation Summit 2019 and on mutual cooperation in tourism and civil aviation sectors between 2 countries.
Tourism Minister Adhikari also invited global investors to invest in Aviation Sector in Nepal in his address at Global Aviation Summit.
India and Nepal have worked on 4 new two-way (incoming as well as outgoing) air entry routes. Previously also they have hold routes of Nepalgunj and Mahendranagar due to provision of Indian Air defense camp.
Presently, in Nepal there is only one single entry point from Simara and there are 7 exit points. Although Mechi and Tumlingtar entry points are also open for planes coming from Lhasa and Bhutan, most common entry checkpoint used is Simara. The single entry point at Simara is a checkpoint for aircraft to make their descent and climb in the Indian airspace following the STAR (Standard Terminal Arrival Route) and SID (Standard Instrument Departure Route), respectively which is pretty much congested.
