February 18: The survey work for the expansion of Bharatpur Airport in Chitwan is set to begin on Monday. A meeting of the Bharatpur Metropolis on Friday (Feb 16), chaired by its mayor Renu Dahal, made a decision to this effect. It is said the said work (that also includes an Obstruction Limitation Surface (OLS) survey) will be completed within a week.
A separate facilitation committee consisting of representatives from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the Nepali Army, and the metropolis will be formed to handle the expansion project.
The meeting decided that as part of the project, relocation of the horse breeding center of the Nepal Army to Shaktikhor, will take place. Likewise, the road on the west side of the airport is going to be rerouted.
Following the expansion, the airport is expected to accommodate larger-capacity aircraft and offer night flight service, among others. Moreover, a fuel pump for aircraft will be constructed. Presently, a new terminal building worth Rs 1.28 billion is being built.
According to Mayor Dahal, the import of Bharatpur as not only a tourist destination and a medical city but also an economic hub is bound to be magnified once the expansion of the airport sees the light of the day.
