Kathmandu, December 29.
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prem Bahadur Ale has expressed his
commitment to abide by every decision made by the parliamentary committee.
At a meeting of the International Relations Committee of the Parliament on Tuesday, he
expressed his determination to fully implement the directives given by the committee regarding the land in the name of Tara Gaun Development Committee, Pokhara Airport and Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa. Minister Ale said, “Discussions are going on regarding the structure of Nijgadh International Airport. Discussions and consultations will be held with the companies that have shown interest in the construction earlier.”
Earlier in the meeting, Chairperson Pavitra Kharel had demanded an answer from Minister Ale as to why the decision of the parliamentary committee, which is a mini-parliament, was not implemented. In the meeting, member of the committee and former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal instructed to start the work only after ascertaining where the airport should be built and where it should not be, and to end the tendency of delay, neglect, lack of quality and competition for commission.
He said, “The construction of Bhairahawa airport terminal is not satisfactory. There has been negligence. It is necessary to pay attention to the long-term impact of construction of
infrastructure. Why the work of Nijgadh airport has been delayed. We have to bring the train from the side of the expressway, it saves money.”
The committee members pointed out the need for coordination and cooperation between the ministry and the concerned bodies to focus on the implementation of the directive, to make the Nepal Airlines Corporation long-lived, and to expedite the work of Nijgadh, Pokhara and Gautam Buddha airports.
Earlier, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Raj Kumar Chhetri and
Executive Chairman of the Nepal Airlines Corporation Yubaraj Adhikari expressed their commitment to ensure regular power supply at Gautam Buddha Airport and to bring the airport into operation as soon as possible by rectifying other shortcomings.
By Muna Chand
