The under construction Gautam Buddha Regional International Airport (GBIA) is expected to conduct test flight before Dashain festival. The airport however requires minimum 1 year to come into complete operation.
Chief engineer for airport project Mr. Prabesh Adhikari said that the overall infrastructures construction are in final phase of completion which requires next 4 months for total completion. The test flight is targeted by this September, he added.
The main target is to complete the project within 2019 to support ‘Visit Nepal Year 2020’ but the probability for completion before 2020 is less, informed Er. Adhikari.
There are no high hills, terrains around GBIA so, the airport will be featured with new advanced technologies that will allow aircraft to land and takeoff at minimum visibility.
The cost of the airport project is Nrs. 6.8 Billion out of which 40.5 per cent is loan from Asian Development Bank (ADB), 7 per cent grant from ADB, 30.5 per cent loan from OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) and 11 per cent expenditure from Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).
Till now, four layer blacktopping work for 3000m length and 45 meter wide runway has been completed. Likewise, 51800 meter international apron and 8190 meter domestic apron construction has also completed. Moreover, main administrative building, 2 km Ghaghar River diversion, electric substation, 1600 meter sideway water flow, 5.8 km fencing have been accomplished.
The works related to Terminal building, Control tower, domestic arrival terminal and international passenger couch are in final phase of completion.
