Local level representatives of Nepalgunj have started work to extend Ranjha airport of Nepalgunj to make it regional international airport.
Local level meeting held on Sunday have discussed to initiate the work on the airport to upgrade the infrastructure of the airport to make it regional international airport and afterwards to approve and commence flight to New-Delhi via Nepalgunj.
The local representative members present at the meeting stated that they will urge the state and federal government for upgrading the airport and to conduct flights to New Delhi from the airport.
For the Nepalgunj-Delhi flight, the current terminal of the Nepalgunj airport should be upgraded to international level, security structure should be enhanced and immigration arrangements should be introduced.
Various other stakeholders present at the meeting stated that if the flights could be conducted as hoped, the whole district could undergo development along with other neighboring districts.
Private carrier, Buddha Air has already acquired permission to operate flights to New-Delhi from the airport however problems like slot management from Indian side and inadequate infrastructure for international flights from the airport has hold the flights of the carrier. The local government has stated that process to eradicate the problem has been initiated and federal government has been informed.
Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has approved the flight schedule of Nepalgunj-Delhi route for Buddha Air to be implemented from January 1, 2019. Buddha Air, earlier requested Ministry of Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) to approve the carrier to operate 3 flights daily at 6:30am morning, 1 pm at afternoon and 5:10 pm evening.
Recently, Tourism Minister (MoCTCA) Rabindra Adhikari started the project of upgrading Runway of the airport and parking bays which is scheduled to be completed within 18 months, however Indian authority has still not shown positive response toward opening new air routes from Nepalgunj which is set to create problem for flight operation.
