Govt takes steps to construct Nijgadh Int’l Airport

KATHMANDU: Following the verdict of the Supreme Court (SC) given in the recent past, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) have advanced steps necessary to construct the Nijgadh International Airport. The Ministry said an experts' panel has been formed to locate an appropriate site for the airport to be constructed in Nijgadh, Bara district. The civil aviation's regulatory body CAAN has decided to form the panel and the committee will get the final shape after approval from the cabinet meeting within some days. The construction of the Nijgadh International Airport will be forwarded based on the committee's study report. During a meeting of the International Relations Committee of the Federal Parliament held on Monday, Tourism Minister Jeevan Ram Shrestha shared that the airport will be constructed with the least environmental damage based on the experts' recommendation by considering the SC's verdict to this end. The Ministry has given priority as per the SC's verdict and the Ministry will take a decision by conducting further studies from the experts' panel. The cost of the international airport, the much-hyped national pride project, is estimated to be around Rs 120 billion in the preliminary phase. So far, 8,050 hectares of land have been acquired and around Rs 3 billion spent on the project. At the meeting, Committee Chairperson Pabitra Niraula Kharel said the project should be advanced without further delay since it is vital for Nepal's development and economic prosperity. She also said the Committee will take its decision after holding consultations with the Minister for Law and Justice by internalising the full text of the SC's verdict. Likewise, former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said the SC has paved the way for the development of the Nijgadh International Airport and now the ministry and line agencies should proceed without further delay. On the occasion, Director General of CAAN, Pradeep Adhikari shared about administrative and other decisions taken in this regard. Speaking at the meeting, lawmakers Bhim Bahadur Rawal, Surendra Kumar Karki, Dev Prakash Timalsina, Chand Tara Kumari, Pushpa Kumari Karn Kayastha, Dipak Prakash Bhatta, Mohan Baniya and Renuka Gurung shared common views stating that the airport was appropriate from all perspectives thus a state-of-the-art airport in Nijgadh should be constructed as soon as possible. By RSS READ ALSO:

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