Rs. 50 lakh 44 thousand 247 has been allocated for the upgrade of Baitadi Airport. A meeting of
the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal chaired by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation
Prem Bahadur Ale has allocated the amount for upgrading various airports in the far western
states including Baitadi under the multi-year project.
The meeting also provided Rs. 1 billion for Dhangadhi Airport and Rs. 2 crore 65 lakh for
Gokuleshwor Airport in Darchula. Budget has also been allocated for Doti, Sanphebagar, Kamal
Bazaar, Mahendranagar, Bajura and Dadeldhura airports. The airport in Patan has been re-
opened after 26 years in the last week of September, 2077 BS. A budget of Rs. 11 crores have
been allocated in 2073 BS to blacktop the airport.
Currently, there is a regular Patan-Dhangadhi flight on Friday, one day a week. The construction
of the airport in Patan started in 2032 BS and the flight was started in 2035 BS. Later, the
airport was closed since 2052 BS. At that time, the airport was closed due to lack of road
network in the hilly district. In 2058 BS, the then rebel Maoists set fire to the airport tower and
destroyed it. Although the runway of the airport has been constructed, the construction of
terminal building and control tower has not started yet.
By Muna Chand
