Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Lokendra Bista Magar has directed to departmental chiefs to begin upgrading the main airports across the nation, immediately, during their meeting at the ministry on Monday.
A total of around of Rs. 1.32 billion has been received by the ministry from the regular budget for airport improvement. The ministry has been preparing to take soft loans from the Asian Development Bank and other donor agencies for the purpose.
Minister Magar has directed departmental chiefs to begin improvements at Pokhara Airport runway and extend Gautam Buddha Airport runway. Improvements will be made at Dang Airport and Dhangadhi Airport so that flights can operated at night. The minister has also directed the chiefs to complete land acquisition for the proposed second international airport in Nijgadh of Bara district.
He further said a proposal has been forwarded by the government to develop the Surkhet Airport as the Regional Airport. Minister of State Dilip Maharjan requested the chiefs to present plans for modernization of the Tribhuwan International Airport.