Bhairahawa and Pokhara airports to be operated in PPP model

Biratnagar / Sept 3: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kiranti, has said that preparations are being made to operate the Gautam Buddha International Airport and the Pokhara Regional International Airport under a PPP (public-private partnership) model.

In a press conference held in Biratnagar on Sunday, Minister Kiranti said that the government is preparing to operate both the airports built with huge investment through the PPP model.

Minister Kiranti clarified that the work is going on according to the plan of Bhairahawa and Pokhara airports.

He said, “Work is being done with the plan of operating both the airports that were built with large investments.”

Minister Kiranti said that not only Bhairahawa and Pokhara, but also the airports of various districts which have been constructed but are not yet operational, are being prepared.

He said that they are going to purchase three aircraft to bring to the airport which is not operated commercially. Minister Kiranti said that Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) currently has three planes and plans to buy three more.

Minister Kiranti said, “To end the situation of competing to build an airport, but not operating after it is built, the airport will be built only on the basis of need.”

Minister Kiranti said that many airports are not operational in Koshi Province, but there is a proposal to build an airport at a new place. He said that it is not appropriate to build an airport anywhere and not operate it, so before building an airport, the needs and commercial potential will also be taken into consideration. Minister Kiranti said that the Biratnagar Airport will not be expanded immediately.

He clarified that the runway of the Biratnagar Airport will not be expanded immediately because the existing runway is sufficient.

“Construction of the terminal building of the Biratnagar Airport has been started keeping in mind the future and the runway will be expanded only if there is a need to expand the runway in the future,” Minister Kiranti said, “The existing runway is sufficient.”

Minister Kiranti claimed that it was not wrong to appoint Lharkyal Lama as the vice-chairman of the Lumbini Development Trust. He said that although Lama was not a controversial person, he was deliberately made controversial.

Minister Kiranti said “He is a man of national consensus, not controversial. He was only made controversial.” Minister Kiranti said that even though the Maoists had changed their political path, they could not change their minds, so they were divided into many factions. He said that the Maoists have conducted a special transformation campaign to publicize the work done by the government and connect with the people.