GBIA, PIA national pride infrastructures

Kathmandu, July 31

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, has said that Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) and Pokhara Regional International Airport (PIA) should now be recognised as national pride infrastructures.

Speaking during a discussion, organised by the Federalism Enablement and National Concerns Committee of the National Assembly of the Federal Parliament, on national pride projects under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MOCTCA), he said that although the Ministry oversees five major projects, the construction of the two newly built international airports has been completed.

“The country must now acknowledge these projects as symbols of national pride and begin to reap benefits from them,” he added.

Minister Pandey also expressed the government's commitment to advancing work on the master plans of Pashupatinath and Lumbini. He mentioned that although the Nijgadh International Airport project has already been designated a national pride project, its construction remains uncertain.

However, he reaffirmed the necessity of the airport for the country and said the government would move forward with a clear construction and operational modality.

Commenting on the underperformance of GBIA and PIA, Minister Pandey said the problems lay not only in air routes but also in the failure of various government bodies to implement the operational plans already prepared by the government.

After a long hiatus, Minister Pandey also noted that all aircraft belonging to Nepal Airlines are currently in operation, and discussions are underway to add more aircraft to the national carrier’s fleet.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 1 August 2025.