Construction of Pokhara Regional International Airport Started

The construction of the Pokhara Regional International Airport has been started by the Chinese contractors from Sunday, reports The Himalayan Times.

The construction was inaugurated by Pradeep Adhikari, Chief Engineer of the project, after the Chinese contractors finished their rituals. For the first phase of the construction, 3 dozens labourers and over a dozen heavy equipment are being utilized. Most of these labourers of Nepalis.

Gerry Yang, Nepal representative of the China CAMC Engineering Co Ltd, Asia-Pacific Division No. 1 Engineering Department Chief, said that team has targeted to flatten the ground during this winter. Zhan Feng, the site manager for the project has vowed to complete the project on time.

The Pokhara Airport project was initiated by Pushpa Kamal Dahal after being elected as PM after the first Constituent Assembly. Then, former PM KP Sharma Oli had signed a MoU of loan agreement for the project with the Chinese government.

After the Chinese government agreed to provide a loan for the project, the Government of Nepal signed an agreement with the Civil Aviation Authority. The Chinese government is to provide a loan of Rs 22 billion loan for the project.

Earlier, PM Sushil Koirala had agreed to contract this project to China CAMC Engineering Co Ltd based on the EPC Model.

Gerry Yang, during his meeting with Jitendra Narayan Das, the Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, has vowed to complete this project by July 10, 2021.