Five years on after inauguration, regular flights still uncertain at Lamidanda airport

KHOTANG, AUGUST 19: A test flight was carried out at Lamidanda Airport, the oldest airport in Khotang June 17, 2019, following the completion of its blacktopping. The test flight was inaugurated on the same day after the blacktopping was completed at a total investment of Rs 67.7 million by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).

Inaugurating the test flight, Constituent Assembly (CA) member Bishal Bhattarai mentioned that discussions were being held with CAAN about operating regular flights at Lamidanda Airport. However, no aircraft have taken off or landed since the test flight. The turning pad of the airport, which had been operating regularly since 1971 in a raw state, has now been blacktopped 28 meters on both sides.

It was shared that the airport was constructed to serve devotees and tourists visiting Halesi, the main religious and tourist destination of the district, as well as the residents of Okhaldhunga and Solukhumbu districts. Local people initiated the construction of the airport in 1969 using local resources, which led to its operation two years later..

However, locals are now facing problems due to the suspension of regular flights at the airport. In the absence of regular flights at the blacktopped airport, locals are compelled to charter helicopters to transport critically ill and injured persons to other places for treatment. Phatik Kumar Shrestha, Chief of Rawabesi Rural Municipality, has blamed the State for committing a great injustice by reducing flights at the airport, which has been serving the residents of three districts and the devotees and tourists travelling to Halesi, a tri-religious site.

"We have been repeatedly requesting the concerned authorities to operate regular flights," he said. "However, no one has shown any interest in reopening the blacktopped airport." Locals commented that employees and equipment of the airport were also relocated to other places following the suspension of flights.

Lawmaker Ram Kumar Rai 'Pasang' stated that efforts were underway to determine the reason behind the reduction in flights at the airport. "It is a matter of regret that flights at Lamidanda Airport have been curtailed. Lamidanda Airport, which was blacktopped with state funds, has been obstructed for the last six years," he said.

Khotang district has three airports serving its ten local-level governments. All three airports, constructed with the aim of providing air services to residents across the district, have been blacktopped with the investment of CAAN.

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