Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ held a high-level meeting on operating Pokhara International Airport and Gautam Buddha International Airport at their full capacity.
A meeting held at the Office of the Prime Ministers and the Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar on Friday discussed ways to operate these two airports at their full capacity.
Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Prachanda said that all the concerned bodies of the government should coordinate with each other to find solutions to bring these two airports of national pride projects (of strategic importance of the country) into operation.
“Pokhara and Bhairahawa airports are the national pride projects,” said Prachanda, “The country has already made a huge investment in these projects. Private sectors also have invested in tourism infrastructures following the construction of these airports. There is no alternative but to bring them at full capacity.”
To maximize Nepal's air travel potential, the Ministry of Tourism and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal should collaborate on developing a comprehensive action plan to bring existing airports at the full capacity, said Prachanda.
Prime Minister in the meeting directed to come up with an action plan to optimize utilization of Nepal's airports under any circumstances. This plan may even include subsidies to incentivize increased capacity.
“There is an air traffic problem in Kathmandu. It needs to be resolved. Besides, Kathmandu Airport is being upgraded. To maximize the air travel capacity, we should make preparations to use Pokhara and Bhairahawa airports for flight services,” said Prachanda, “Nepali people going for foreign employment and other travelers should board planes from these airports. Other necessary paper works such as work permit, immigration services, and medical clearances should be arranged from these places. To facilitate smoother visa processing, diplomatic channels should be explored to establish a visa center.”
Stating that some concessions should be given for the operation of the airport at full capacity, Prime Minister Prachanda said that some concessions should be offered on airfare, ground handling and aviation fuel. "Let's coordinate with the private sector such as hotels and ask for concession packages. Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation Authority should do the necessary homework. Coordinate with other ministries and agencies and come to a conclusion at the earliest," the Prime Minister said.
Speaking at the meeting, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Hit Bahadur Tamang said that he will do homework and come up with a concrete action plan to bring the airports to its full capacity.
Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism Dr. Ganesh Prasad Pandey said that a concrete proposal will be presented after discussing options with concessional packages and added that the Ministry is also coordinating with foreign airline companies to operate both airports at full capacity.
In the discussion called by the Prime Minister, Minister Tamang, Chief Secretary Dr. Baikuntha Aryal, Tourism Secretary Dr. Pandey, Commerce Secretary Dinesh Kumar Ghimire, Revenue Secretary Dr. Ram Prasad Ghimire, Labor Secretary Ghanshyam Upadhyay, Civil Aviation Authority Director General Pradeep Adhikari among others were present.
