Lack of budget allocation for Dhangadhi Airport up-gradation even after approval

Birendra Bhatta, Dhangadhi: On 25th January 2076, in the presence of the then Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Yogesh Bhattarai, the 20-year master plan for the upgrading of Dhangadhi Airport was announced. Real Path Engineering Consultancy prepared and released a 20-year master plan to upgrade Dhangadhi Airport to international standards. It is mentioned in the master plan that the airport will be constructed in 3 phases by 2040.

Expanding the existing runway, new runway with a length of 2550 meters and width of 45 meters, four-lane access road, new terminal building, internal service road, ship parking, public diversion road, construction of staff hostel, control tower, cargo complex, Remote aircraft parking, parking for 500 vehicles, construction of 7 km road in the periphery of the airport, etc have been mentioned in the master plan. However, the implementation work has not been done according to the master plan.

Due to a lack of budget, the rest of the process could not be carried out. It is mentioned in the master plan that the airport will be constructed in three phases by 2040. The master plan was prepared with a total cost of 12.14 billion for the first phase, 4.98 billion for the second phase, and 6.8 billion for the third phase. Although the proposed master plan has been approved by the government, it has not been implemented. The development of Dhangadhi Airport as a regional airport has been postponed for now, but internal improvements continue to be made.

The government has not allocated a budget for the airport in the current financial year although the master plan for airport upgradation has been approved. On the contrary, Ramakrishna Bhatta, head of the airport office, claims that it is mentioned in the budget statement that the feasibility study is to be conducted without the budget.

He informed Dineshkhabar that the airport is being upgraded. According to him, a water fountain is being constructed to improve the terminal building and to target domestic and foreign tourists. "It is said that if the 20-year master plan for the expansion of the airport is approved, the possibility of budget allocation will be studied," he said.

There is no budget allocation for airport expansion in the budget for the current financial year. Although it is mentioned in the budget that the feasibility of the airport will be studied, the amount has not been disclosed. However, the internal improvement of the airport and further upgrading work are being done. According to the airport office, they are expanding the compartment to accommodate a larger number of passengers.

Under the airport improvement plan, terminal building improvement, passenger room capacity expansion, parking area expansion, baggage handling system, water fountain, canteen, and a gate are being constructed. In addition to this, a contract has already been signed for the construction of a water fountain and a well-facilitated canteen inside the airport.

The office said that gate construction and gardening are also being carried out to target domestic and foreign tourists.