Reform and expansion of TIA at snail pace

CB Adhikari / Kathmandu, Aug 11: The Air Transportation Enhancement Project for reforming and expanding the only international airport of the country-Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) has failed to gain anticipated pace although three years and half have elapsed since the Project was initiated.

The sluggish pace of the Asian Development Bank funded Project amounting to more than Rs 6 billion is attributed to the contractor’s gross negligence and irresponsibility of the stakeholders.

The Project handled by Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and contracted by a Spanish company- Sanjose has been able to achieve 16 per cent of progress so far, according to Project Chief Baburam Poudel.

The Gorkha Earthquake and its repercussions as well as the border blockade imposed by India are also said to have contributed to the delay in the Project that was to be completed by mid-October this year.

Of the total budget estimated for the Project, Rs 90 million has been spent for expanding international terminal building and constructing remote Parking area-both of which are under the progress.

CIAA Managing Director Devananda Upadhyay brushed aside the stunted development of the Project. He shared that the construction of remote Parking estimated worth Rs 340 million was already in the offing and would be completed in 18 months.

Similarly, CAAN Director General Sanjeev Gautam reasons the contractor company’s dillydallying for expediting the Project. Gautam explained, “Although the contract did not agree on bringing in mud/soil from Pashupati Area Development Trust’s (PADT) premises alone, the Contractor Company is halting the transportation of soil from elsewhere.”

Although 150,000 cubic metres of soil has been transported from the Trust, the Contractor company has halted the transportation of the same for two years.

Amid this, the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority has issued directive to the concerned authority thrice while the National Vigilance Centre and the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers have repeatedly alerted to complete the Project on time but none of the directives have been implemented.

Questions on the progress of the Project have been raised in the International Relations and Labour Committee under the Legislature-Parliament too.

Parliamentarians, including Lalita Kumari Regmi, Rajya Laxmi Shrestha and Ashok Kumar Mandal among others have expressed their qualm over the unsatisfactory performance of the Contractors and concerned authorities.

They have demanded action against the Contractor and voiced for scrapping the contract with the existing Company changing to accelerate the Project.

Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prem Kumar Rai stated that by adopting a new measure for the Project, the Project cost would rise to 12 billion.

He added that the Project would be further delayed by doing so. Hence Secretary Rai spoke of the need to continue with the current contractor but pressed for pace for the Project.RSS