Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation has proposed the Finance Ministry to allocate a budget of Rs 920 million to it for the coming fiscal year for the continuation of ongoing programs and to finance new programs, according to Murari Bahadur Karky, joint secretary at Ministry of MoTCA. [break]
The amount proposed by MoTCA is almost double of Rs 490 million allocated to it in the current fiscal year. Apart from this, Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has sought Rs 1.25 billion and Nepal Tourism Year 2011 Secretariat has sought Rs 230 million for the coming fiscal year, according to Karky.
MoTCA is studying the prospect of constructing airports in Dhorpatan and Sankhuwasabha in the coming fiscal year. It has received proposals to construct airports in Panchthar, Siraha and Udayapur, among other districts.
According to CAAN, there are 47 airports in the country and 32 of them are in operation at present.
Karky said the number would reach 52 once the five under construction airports come into operation. He also informed that three airports in hilly areas would be capable of operating flights even during nighttime within the next fiscal year.
Tourism Tourism Infrastructure Development Project has demanded the budget of Rs 300 million for developing new trekking routes, improving cycle tracks at Janakpur and Pokhara, and constructing restrooms and setting up telephone services in remote areas.
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