Saturday, August 3, 2024

PM seeks plans for smooth operation of Bhirahawa, Pokhara airports

 Kathmandu, Aug. 2

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has asked for a clear plan from the relevant ministries for the operation of Pokhara and Gautam Buddha International Airports at full capacity.

After discussion with the concerned ministers, secretaries and high officials at the Prime Minister's Office at Singha Durbar, PM Oli instructed them to come up with the details of the existing problems and solutions needed for the full operation of the two new airports in order to manage the current flight and passenger traffic of the Tribhuvan International Airport.

It is said PM Oli took seriously the issue of the two international airports remaining out of operation even after a long time since their construction while the TIA in Kathmandu is exceeding its capacity.

He sought necessary facilitation from the concerned ministries and departments to address the issue.

PM Oli directed the ministries to operate immigration and other facilities for the efficient operation of both airports, not to keep fuel storage near the airport, reduce the price of aviation fuel, make arrangement for not to charge value added tax and tourism tax, and operate the ground handling service according to the rules.

Meanwhile, a working group consisting of joint secretaries of all relevant ministries under the coordination of Raj Kumar Shrestha, Secretary of the PMO, has been given the responsibility to come up with a plan for the operation of the airport to be submitted to the next meeting of the Cabinet.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Foreign Minister Dr. Arju Rana Deuba, Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Badri Prasad Pandey, Labor and Employment Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari, Prime Minister's Chief Advisor Bishnu Rimal, Economic Affairs Advisor Dr. Yuvraj Khatiwada, Chief Secretary of the Government Lila Devi Gadtaula and Prime Minister's Chief Personal Secretary Rajesh Bajracharya among others participated in the meeting. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 3 August 2024.        


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