Kathmandu, Dec. 15:
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is
developing additional helipads at Simikot airport in Humla in mid-west Nepal and
at Lukla in the Everest region, targeting the increasing number of visitors to these
destinations.
About 10,764 square metres of land have been
acquired around the Simikot airport for the construction of helipads to
accommodate four more helicopters, following increased number of visitors going
to Mansarovar, a holy lake in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
"The number of visitors to Mansarovar is
ever increasing, and there is a huge demand for helicopter services in the
Karnali region," said Jagannath Niroula, a director at the CAAN.
According
to him, the number of Indian pilgrims has increased significantly in the past
few years, and with the political stability and tourism promotion, the number
will go up in the future.
The Everest region is also facing the same
challenge with the surging number of domestic as well as foreign tourists, forcing
the government to construct additional helipads adjacent to the airport.
The CAAN is also upgrading at least six domestic
airports by turning grassland runways into blacktopped ones.
Agreements have been signed with the contractors
for the blacktopping of Lamidanda, Thamkhark, Rajbiraj, Doti Dipayal, Baitadi
and Sanphebagar airports, said Trilochan Poudyal, Information Officer at the
CAAN.
The aviation authority has completed runway
construction at Kalikot airport and blacktopping of the runway, taxiway and
apron of Bhojpur, Manmaya Rai Khanidanda, Taplejung, Rukum Chaurjahari and Rara
airports.
"Airports are being constructed in Kalikot,
Gulmi, Okhaldhunga, Ilam, Arghakhanchi and Sunsari districts. At the same time CAAN
is carrying out feasibility study for a second airport in Surkhet and one in
Baglung," said Poudyal.
Likewise, apron area at the Biratnagar and
Nepalgunj airports is under expansion.
CAAN is spending about Rs. 2.30 billion for the
construction and upgrading of existing domestic airports across the country and
for feasibility study of additional airports.
Nepal currently has 50 airports, including the
Tribhuvan International Airport – the only international airport in the
country, and 33 of them are in operation while 17 are not in operation. Nine
are in the construction phase, including the second international airport at
Nijgadh, and Pokhara and Bhairahawa International Airports.
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