Govt to let private sectors operate Bhairahawa Int’l Airport: Minister Adhikari

KATHMANDU, May 23: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari Wednesday said that the government is exploring the options of handing over the responsibility of operating Gautam Buddha International Airport, based in Bhairahawa, to the private sector.

The government in its policies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year 2018/19 has stated that it plans to complete the construction of Gautam Buddha International Airport within a year.

The under construction second international airport, which was due to complete in 2017 December, could not finish as the construction works was affected for over a year owing to payment disputes between local vendors and a Chinese contractor building the project.

Minister Adhikari said that the government is thinking of allowing the private sector run the airport to promote healthy promotion. Adhikari had reached Bhairahawa to monitor the construction site today.

Stating that the project must not miss another deadline, he said that he will monitor the construction site every 15 days to make sure the project completes in time.

Stating that the government would make arrangement of equipment if it is required to expedite construction task of the airport, Minister Pokhrel expressed the view that construction task of the airport has been moving ahead in satisfactory manner.

On the occasion, Project Chief En Om Sharma said that out of 70 per cent physical infrastructure of the airport, 40 per cent has already been completed.

According to the Project, works are underway taking 2019 as the operation year.