Minister Kirati says international airport will be built in Bara

CHITWAN, Nov 16:Sudan Kirati, Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, announced that the government has begun the process of constructing an international airport at Nijgadh, Bara.

Minister Kirati told reporters in Chitwan's Bharatpur on Monday that the government has moved forward with the development process now that the airport's barriers and challenges have been minimized.

In response to a journalist's question on why an additional international airport is needed at Bara given the Bhairahawa and Pokhara International Airports are stuck, Minister Kirati stated that the Bara International Airport is also required to relieve air traffic congestion in Kathmandu. He stated that the fast track was initiated as a result of the development of the international airport in  Bara.

He also stated that the Bhairahawa and Pokhara International Airports are ready to function under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.He said that the airports could not be operated due to political pressure rather than necessity.

Minister Kirati announced that the government has begun the process of acquiring a portion of the land controlled by the Nepali Army under Track Two for the development of Bharatpur Airport's runway in Chitwan. "Now we have only asked the army for the horse breeding center land needed for the runway, the army is also positive," said Kiranti, the minister Kirati. 

He stated that the army will never be an obstacle to growth. Minister Kiranti stated that night flights and ATR 72-seated planes will be able to operate from Bharatpur after the army provided 400 meters of land for the runway.