Tourism Minister (MoCTCA) Rabindra Adhikari has stated that the Pokhara Regional Airport will come into operation prior to scheduled operation commencement date.
Minister Adhikari claimed that the work will be completed around 6 months before the deadline while speaking at inauguration ceremony of third Kahun Dharahara Festival on Friday. Minister stated that the full pace work is going on and there will be no difficulties and disputes that will arise further until the completion time.
He also expressed confidence to welcome more than 2 million tourist in upcoming visit year-2020 and has urged tourism entrepreneurs and business man to come up with effective new ideas to further promote tourism inside Nepal.
Project head of the Pokhara International Airport also stated that the work of runway, taxiway and apron will be completed in coming 3 months. The work of black-topping will be done in 3 level and all the work is expected to complete in 3 months. Foundation has also been laid for constructing hanger.
The airport runway will be 2500 meter long and 45 meters wide and the work is being carried out in fast pace stated the project head. More than 20% of the work has been completed and drainage work has also been completed by 70% he added.
The government had given contract of construction project to the Chinese company CAMC Engineering on 12 of May, 2014. As per the agreement, the CAMCE has taken the contract to construct the airport in the EPC model and the company has to pay compensation if the work is not completed during the specified time.
The construction project of the international airport was started with loan assistance of 22 billion from Exim Bank of China and is projected to complete within 10th July 2021. The project will also receive some grant from Chinese side.
Construction of Pokhara International Airport (at Chinnedanda-3 km to the east of Pokhara’s present domestic airport) was inaugurated with placing foundation stone by then Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli on April 13, 2016.
