Kathmandu, September 4 : The constructions of two international airports in the country continue to gather pace even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, according to media reports. Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairawaha has now seen the completion of 92 percent of its construction works. Before the outbreak of the pandemic, 85 percent of such works of the airport was completed.
Similarly, 63 percent of the building works of Pokhara International Airport in Pokhara has so far been accomplished. Around 50 percent of such works was completed before the onset of the pandemic.
The government is planning to complete the construction of Bhairawaha Airport within the coming December and bring it into operation by the second week of March, 2021.
According to reports, the construction works of the airport will further speed up after the supply of the needed materials related to the runway lights, baggage handling system, etc. Such supply from China, which was disrupted due to the outbreak of the pandemic, is expected to get smooth soon.
Northwest Aviation Airport, a Chinese company, has been undertaking the construction of the project since 2016. Funded by the Asian Development Bank, its total total cost is estimated at Rs 6.82 billion. So far, out of the total amount, Rs 430 billion has already been invested.
Bhairawaha Airport, the black-topping of the runway of which is already completed, will have a capacity to serve around 6 million air passengers.
On the other side, the concerned authorities look to accomplish the project of Pokhara International Airport by June, 2021. The process of building the runway has already been completed and currently the finishing tasks of 14 different building are going on.
Another China-based firm, CAMC Engineering, is handling the construction of the project. Funded by Chinese Exim Bank, its total cost is calculated at Rs 21.47 billion. Till now, of the total amount, Rs 11.70 billion has been spent.
