-CB Adhikari
May 25 : Construction works of the two regional international airports in the country have been going on unhindered even during the ongoing lockdown period.
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai, said that his ministry is carrying out carrying out such works of the Gautam Buddha Regional International Airport (GBRIA) and Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA) even in the current uneasy situation by utliising the resources and means in the best possible manner.
According to him, the GBIA will see the light of the day soon after the end of the lockdown, while the PRIA will be materialised in the set deadline.
When it comes to the project of GBIA, the target was set to accomplish it in last May of this year. “But, it could not happen thanks to a halt in the supply of the needed constructional materials from China due to the COVID-19 crisis,” Chief of the GBIA project, Prabesh Adhikari.
A total of 150 workers, including 29 Chinese, are engaged in its construction. The physical and financial progress so far achieved by the project stands at 90 percent and 63 percent respectively, according to him.
As far as the PRIA project goes, the construction works are taking place to complete it by the set deadline i.e July, 21. According to chief of the project, Binesh Munkarm, there has been a smooth supply of the construction materials for it despite the lockdown. He even added that the project could well be accomplished at least six months before the deadline if there is no shortage of construction materials. Similarly, a total of 350 workers, including 250 Chinese, are engaged in constructing the project.
The GBRIA is being constructed in the Siddharthanagar Municipality in the Rupandehi district in Province No. 5, while the PRIA is bein built in Pokhara of Gandaki Province. Both of them are deemed as national pride projects. RSS
