The government will invest NRs. 230 Million on the concept to modify the sole international airport of the country, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) as ‘Boutique Airport’.
The boutique airport strategy was expedited by the Prime Minister KP Oli and Late Honorable Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Rabindra Adhikari.
Raj Kumar Chhetri, General Manager of TIA stated that the work has paced up along with the authorization of NRs 230 Million from Ministry of Finance.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli announced that the government will inaugurate the TIA as a boutique airport on April 14.
The plans were formulated and was preparing for implementation but the project was pushed into limbo after the sudden death of Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari.
The government has approved the Boutique Airport Strategy on 28th Falgun, 2075. As per the plan, the boutique transformation process will take place in two phases.
Second phase has already begun from the 1st of Baisakh, 2076 which includes construction of new infrastructure, installation of Nepali sculptures and other things that reflect the beauty of Nepal.
GM Chhetri said that construction of physical infrastructure, artwork and statues are being carried out at the airport.
Currently, the renovation of the runway of TIA is going on. Total 20 per cent progress has been made in the maintenance of the runway of TIA.
Dipendra Shrestha, Information officer of the expansion project stated that the renovation work started from April 1, 2019 has completed 20 per cent of work.
The runway of TIA constructed in 1975, is being fully upgraded for the first time. The rehabilitation work has been carried out for 10 hours a day from 10 PM to 8 AM for three months.
“We have got the budget to spend on construction of boutique airports by raising the amount from various charges,” said GM Chhetri, “the work is carried out according to the plan.”
The government has included the announcement of boutique international airport on upcoming policy and program.
The runway of TIA is 3050 meters (10007 ft) long and 46 meters wide.
He said that the maintenance work of taxi way will be started only after completion of the runway.
The duct of center-line light was installed from April 1 to April 15, 2019.
After the lights were connected, the blacktopping of the runway was initiated from April 15, 2019. The work of the repairing has been carried out from the amount of NRs 1000 collected from the passengers as the airport development fee.
China Aero Technology International Engineering Corporation Chinese Company held a charge of the runway rehabilitation project of TIA.
Nepal is expecting to welcome 2 million tourists by the year 2020 with ‘Visit Nepal Year 2020’ campaign for which TIA is being modified into a boutique airport.
