-BHARATPUR
The Bharatpur Civil Aviation Authority has recommended the metropolis to demolish parts of high-rise buildings, which have raised concerns among aviation authorities over potential risks they could pose to fight safety around the airport premises’.
The tall apartment buildings of ‘Unique Colony’ near the airport are imposing a major threat to all the aircraft approaching and taking off from this airport. A total of 257 houses near the airport premises are reported to have been built against the house building regulation of Nepal Government. Those houses are imposing the threat as well as a barrier for extension of the runway. The authorized authorities have not initiated any legal attempt against those builders.
Airport chief, Pawan Gautam acknowledged that they have been reporting for flight safety for 11 years now. The airport presently features 1200 meter lengthy runway but air operators are only able to use 1000 meters. The aircraft taking off through the airstrip are compiled to make an immediate descend on the short final towards the runway during landing. Due to such tall houses, aircraft cannot make full use of the runway and have to land 200 meter apart and brake forcefully which might cause an accident raising the eyebrow towards the safety concern.
Now even more danger has been increased as the electricity authority has added more than 11,000 kV open wire lines in the area. The airport has reported to remove or underground the lines to the electricity authority. Local administration has also taken initiative to remove the risk of open wire. But the electricity authority main office has stated that all the expense that will b required while undergrounding the wire should be paid by the airport.
Presently, the Jetstream 41 aircraft of Yeti airlines, Beechcraft 1900C aircraft of Simrik Airlines and ATR 42 series aircraft of Buddha Air having regular scheduled flights in Bharatpur airport have been impacted. Daily 15 landings have been recorded at the airport by airlines like Yeti, Buddha and Simrik Airlines.
Being concerned over the risks posed by tall houses and other buildings, Bharatpur Airport had already submitted a report to the District Administration Office in 2014 regarding the legality of the buildings. The report, which was prepared by a committee formed by the airport office, clearly states that there are total of 244 permanent and 13 temporary physical structures, including people´s houses built against the law.
If the authority immediately does not take in charge of those houses, Bharatpur Airport would never see a better day in future. The locals of the airport vicinity seem to be interested in helping the betterment of airport. As per the reports, they have said that in case of proper reasoning they will be ready to do as the authorities instruct them to do. This is because the people of Bharatpur have taken this airport as a backbone of development and they want the betterment of it. They have desired for the conduction of flights to other region of the district and to conduct night flying in the airport.
