Tourism Minister Khadgaraj Poudel inspects Majhagaun Airport reconstruction progress

Mahendranagar: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadgaraj Poudel has inspected Majhagaun Airport in Bhimdatta Municipality, Kanchanpur.

During the inspection, the minister reviewed the progress of efforts to bring the airport back into operation and took stock of the remaining work. He stated that state investment should not go to waste and assured that issues seen in the reconstruction process would be addressed. Minister Poudel also inspected the dry port under construction in Dodhara Chandni on the same day.

The airport, which was closed in 2058 BS citing security reasons, has remained non-operational since then. A contract agreement was signed in 2078 BS to complete reconstruction within three years at a cost of Rs 456.6 million. Currently, around 75 percent of the construction work has been completed. After the original deadline expired, the first phase timeline has been extended by one year. Of the total 1,525 meters of runway to be blacktopped, 1,450 meters has already been constructed.

Construction, which had been affected by a long-standing land acquisition dispute, gained momentum after the Nepal Army provided land for the runway last year. In 2077 BS, a memorandum of understanding was signed among the federal government, the provincial government and the local governments of Bhimdatta and Dodhara Chandani municipalities for the airport upgrade. Under the arrangement, Bhimdatta Municipality is investing 15 percent, Dodhara Chandani Municipality 10 percent, Sudurpaschim Province government 25 percent, and the federal government 50 percent in the reconstruction project.