Tourism Minister inspects upgrade work of TIA

DECEMBER 3: KATHMANDU, The capacity enhancement of Nepal's Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the country's busiest airport, is advancing at a rapid pace. Since November 9, the airport has been closing for 10 hours daily for upgrade work, including the construction of a parallel taxiway, an international apron, and a hangar apron.

In this context, Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, inspected the construction sites of the parallel taxiway, international apron, and hangar apron yesterday midnight. A team led by Minister Pandey, accompanied by State Minister for Tourism Arun Kumar Chaudhary, Tourism Secretary Dr. Ganesh Prasad Pandey, and Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Director General Pradeep Adhikari, reviewed the progress of these capacity-enhancement efforts.

The Air Transport Capacity Enhancement Project under CAAN is spearheading the construction work, focusing on the southwest for the parallel taxiway, the north for the international apron, and the eastern side for the hangar apron. The total cost of the project is estimated at NPR 15 billion.

During the inspection, Minister Pandey expressed satisfaction with the progress, highlighting the efficient use of resources, including a large workforce and modern equipment. He emphasized that the project demonstrates how quality development work can be completed within set deadlines. He also assured that the upgrades would significantly improve the airport’s operational efficiency and service quality upon completion.

"Construction is proceeding swiftly with a daily 10-hour airport closure. While the original deadline was April 1, the current pace suggests the work might be completed ahead of schedule," said Minister Pandey. He urged local governments, civil society, and stakeholders to hold contractors accountable to prevent delays in future infrastructure projects.

Project chief Dipendra Shrestha reported that over 300 skilled personnel and advanced equipment are being utilized daily to ensure timely progress. The parallel taxiway, being built adjacent to the runway, is expected to increase runway capacity by 20-25% and streamline air traffic management.

To ensure safety during the upgrade, all flights between 10 PM and 8 AM have been suspended.

Nepal currently operates three international airports: Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa, and Pokhara International Airport. Established 74 years ago, TIA remains Nepal’s oldest and busiest airport, facilitating over 300 domestic flights and approximately 100 international flights daily.