The construction of Nijgadh International International Airport will begin soon, according to the Prime Minister.
Inaugurating Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA) today, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' said that air route is the most effective way for connectivity for land-locked countries like Nepal. Thus, the construction of Nijgadh International Airport is important, he added.
The proposed Nijgadh International Airport has been claimed to an alternative to the already congested Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), though, the conservation activists have opposed to the construction of airport by destroying one of the best-preserved forests in the Tarai Madhesh.
The Supreme Court, on May 26, 2022, issued a verdict telling the government not to construct the proposed Nijgadh airport. The full text of the verdict clarified the apex court did not rule out the possibility of constructing the airport in Nijgadh of the Bara district in southern Nepal.
Following that, a government-commissioned panel has suggested that Nijgadh is the best option for constructing the next international airport in the country.
The international airport project conceptualised several years ago turned controversial with conservationists opposing it. They have also been condemning the government’s plans to cut down 2.4 million trees and destroy an entire ecosystem.
Nepal’s first international airport TIA in Kathmandu is 71 years old, whereas the second international airport Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) in Bhairahawa was inaugurated in May 2022.
On the occasion of Gregorian New Year, Dahal inaugurated Pokhara Regional International Airport, which is the country's third international airport that started domestic flights from today, and will start international flights from Frebruary.
Saying that Shankar Raj Pathak, the man who conceptualised Pokhara International Airport, is his teacher, Dahal also praised him.
Pokhara Metropolitan City has declared a public holiday today to celebrate the inauguration, and also felicitated the architect of the international airport Pathak with a chariot ride.
Urging the Chinese government to extend support in construction of projects including the railway service and in easing the trade by opening the transit points, he also opined that there could not be two opinions that the operation of the international airport in Pokhara will contribute to the economic development of the entire nation along with that of the Gandaki province.
Pokhara, the tourism capital of Nepal and also the capital of Gandaki province, is expected to get more tourists after the new airport starts international flights.
The government will provide support for operation of Pokhara International Airport, said deputy prime minister and finance minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel, On the occasion.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, he also promised provide maximum government support for construction of other remaining infrastructures for the new airport.
Likewise on the occasion, Gandaki province chief minister Krishna Chandra Pokhrel urged the Chinese government to transform the loan it provided for the Pokhara Regional International Airport into grants.
"I urge the government of China through the Chinese Embassy here to convert the 75 per cent of the total loan into grants," he said. "With the completion of the project, the 47-year-long dream of Pokhara folks had come true."
In first phase, the airport should have its services for the South Asia and in the second phase for the Western countries, Pokhrel said, adding hoping the tourist arrival in the lake city will significantly increase with the operation of new airport. “Now Pokhara should focus on lengthening the tourist stay at least for 15 days."
Nepal had signed a $215.96 million (around Rs 22 billion) soft loan agreement with China in March 2016 for the construction of the new airport in the lake city.
However, the new airport constructed with loan assistance from the Chinese government has been claimed by the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu, to be the support project that falls within the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The spokesperson at the Embassy of China in Kathmandu claimed that the Pokhara Regional International Airport is the flagship project of China-Nepal BRI cooperation. "The inauguration ceremony of Pokhara International Airport will be held at 11 am tomorrow (Sunday), the spokesperson wrote on Twitter yesterday, "This is the flagship project of China-Nepal BRI cooperation," it reads, adding that the Embassy warmly congratulates to Nepali Government and Nepali people. "The newly-built airport is designed and built in accordance with the standards of China and the International Civil Aviation Organization, which reflects the quality of Chinese projects, symbolises the national pride of Nepal, and becomes a remarkable sign for China and Nepal to jointly build the Belt and Road Initiative."
“The new airport not only facilitates personnel exchanges between Nepal and China and other countries, but also proves the true friendship and mutual assistance between the two countries in times of adversity,” the tweeter reads.
"The PRIA is a matter of pride for Pokhara as the airport is the decade-long dream of the residents of Pokhara," according to Pokhara metropolis Mayor Dhana Raj Acharya. "As the airport will prove to be a milestone in the promotion of tourism in this region, it is necessary to convey the message of the grand opening to the whole world."
"Pokhara is a major tourist destination in the country and the tourism sector will benefit immensely with the operation of the new international airport, chairman of the Pokhara Tourism Council Pomnarayan Shrestha said, adding that the new airport is expected to bring a big relief to the tourism sector. "Along with the international airport, we will make a promotional campaign around the world to bring in more tourists in Pokhara."
Constructed by the Chinese construction company CAMCE, the regional international airport was handed over to Nepal last March, during the visit of Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi to Nepal.
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