The Chinese Embassy in Nepal congratulated the people and government (Gov) of Nepal on the inauguration of Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA).
The flagship project of Nepal-China Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation, PRIA is set for inauguration tomorrow (Sunday) -- the ceremony coinciding with the English New Year, 2023.
The PRIA was constructed at a cost of Rs 22 billion in concessional loans and grants from the Exim Bank of China.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' is scheduled to inaugurate the state-of-the-art international airport, and all preparations for the same have been over, said Pokhara Metropolitan City at a press conference today.
The metropolis has been tasked with looking after the arrangements for the people's participation, publicity and celebration of the event. Welcome gates have been constructed at various places of the touristic city, Pokhara.
"The inauguration of the airport is like a festival for Pokhara. The long awaited project has been finally over with the support and assistances of the local people. We will make the event grand. We have urged them to observe the moment by illuminating the houses in the evening," said the Mayor Dhanraj Acharya.
Earlier, a rally of people clad in their original clothing and tableaux will be taken out through Amersingh Chaur in Pokhara. The airport envisioner Shankar Raj Pathak, also the then chief of the Gandaki Zone, will be taken on a chariot in honour and given a civic felicitation, said Mayor Acharya.
Bikram Gautam, Director of the Office of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Pokhara International Airport, expressed the hope that the airport would open the door to prosperity not only of Pokhara, but of the entire nation. Various airlines have shown their interest in operating flights from the airport, he added.
It will take a while to operate international flights from the airport, he said, adding that it aims to operate the airport 18 hours a day. "The operation time depends on the pressure of business. We are hopeful that it will be run up to 18 hours a day from February, 2023."
Although Buddha Air, a privately owned airline in Nepal, underwent all the process to operate an international flight to Varanasi in the neighbouring India, it was halted after Indian side did not grant permission, said Gautam.
For the project, 3,100 ropani of lands were acquired first time in 2032 BS. The project was resumed and completed after a halt of some four decades.
