Reconstruction of Gokuleshwar airport, closed for three decades, stalled due to budget shortage

Darchula: Reconstruction work at Gokuleshwar Airport, which has remained closed for over three decades, has come to a standstill.

KS Construction Pvt. Ltd., Dhangadhi, carried out filling and gabion work at the airport four years ago, but further construction has been delayed due to a lack of budget. Once operational, the airport in Shailyashikhar Municipality-9, Gokuleshwar, is expected to serve not only Darchula but also neighboring districts of Baitadi and Bajhang.

Locals have urged the government to allocate the required budget immediately to resume the remaining work. Gokuleshwar Airport, operational since 2046 BS, has been non-functional since 2050 BS. The facility, left largely unattended since 2060 BS, is now dilapidated, with the airport building in ruins and the airstrip converted into a playground and grazing area for cattle.

In the fiscal year 2077/78, the Ministry of Finance had allocated Rs. 504.949 million for airport reconstruction. Subsequently, a multi-year contract worth Rs. 35.8 million was signed with KS Construction in 2078 BS to complete the filling and gabion work. Despite the contract, progress has been slow in recent years due to insufficient budget allocation, according to Vijay Singh Dhami, Mayor of Shailyashikhar Municipality.

Mayor Dhami noted that the lack of air transport forces residents to undertake arduous 350-kilometer road journeys to the provincial capital. Locals, along with provincial and federal MPs from Darchula, have expressed frustration over the delay and emphasized that the reconstruction and operation of Gokuleshwar Airport are crucial for the district’s development.