Stakeholders urged the government to construct Nijgadh International Airport at any cost as it will boost the economy.
At an interaction organised here today by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), stakeholders listed the economic benefits that the second international airport can bring. If the Nijgadh International Airport comes into operation, it will boost the country’s gross domestic product by five to eight percentage points, they said.
Former National Planning Commission (NPC) vice chair and economist Dr Shankar Sharma said that the Nijgadh International Airport can be the backbone of economy. “Most industries are based in Province 2, and it is also a hub for tourism and agriculture sectors,” he said, adding that Province 2 will benefit the most from the new airport. “The second international airport will help bring more tourists from India and China and also connect Nepal directly with European countries.”
Since the number of tourists is increasing rapidly across the world, the highest number of tourists is from the Asia-Pacific region, Sharma added. “Among countries from Asia-Pacific region, tourists from India and China travel all over the world.”
Likewise, economist Surendra Upreti urged the authorities not to get mired in discussions on an alternative to the Nijgadh International Airport. “It is true that the country now needs a full-fledged international airport that can handle the ever-rising passenger and aircraft movement,” he said, adding that Nijgadh International Airport can also provide air cargo services, which will directly help boost economy. “So, it is pointless to look for an alternative at the moment as construction of Nijgadh International Airport has already been delayed by 25 years.”
Upreti also said that no mega infrastructure has been built anywhere in the world without some collateral damage to the environment. “Let the government build the airport and operate it in a full-fledged manner.”
Environmentalist Ripu Maharjan, however, said that the demand of environmentalists is that the development process and the environment be dealt with simultaneously. “Environment is necessary for human beings and we just cannot ignore it in favour of any development work,” he said, adding that the government has to come up with a concrete plan on how the impact on the environment can be reduced while building the airport and how wildlife can be managed after construction is over.
Replying the queries, on the occasion, director general of CAAN Rajan Pokhrel said that the government will build Nijgadh International Airport soon to address the increasing air congestion at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) and also to open the door for economic sources.
At an interaction organised here today by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), stakeholders listed the economic benefits that the second international airport can bring. If the Nijgadh International Airport comes into operation, it will boost the country’s gross domestic product by five to eight percentage points, they said.
Former National Planning Commission (NPC) vice chair and economist Dr Shankar Sharma said that the Nijgadh International Airport can be the backbone of economy. “Most industries are based in Province 2, and it is also a hub for tourism and agriculture sectors,” he said, adding that Province 2 will benefit the most from the new airport. “The second international airport will help bring more tourists from India and China and also connect Nepal directly with European countries.”
Since the number of tourists is increasing rapidly across the world, the highest number of tourists is from the Asia-Pacific region, Sharma added. “Among countries from Asia-Pacific region, tourists from India and China travel all over the world.”
Likewise, economist Surendra Upreti urged the authorities not to get mired in discussions on an alternative to the Nijgadh International Airport. “It is true that the country now needs a full-fledged international airport that can handle the ever-rising passenger and aircraft movement,” he said, adding that Nijgadh International Airport can also provide air cargo services, which will directly help boost economy. “So, it is pointless to look for an alternative at the moment as construction of Nijgadh International Airport has already been delayed by 25 years.”
Upreti also said that no mega infrastructure has been built anywhere in the world without some collateral damage to the environment. “Let the government build the airport and operate it in a full-fledged manner.”
Environmentalist Ripu Maharjan, however, said that the demand of environmentalists is that the development process and the environment be dealt with simultaneously. “Environment is necessary for human beings and we just cannot ignore it in favour of any development work,” he said, adding that the government has to come up with a concrete plan on how the impact on the environment can be reduced while building the airport and how wildlife can be managed after construction is over.
Replying the queries, on the occasion, director general of CAAN Rajan Pokhrel said that the government will build Nijgadh International Airport soon to address the increasing air congestion at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) and also to open the door for economic sources.
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