Controlling gold smuggling is not within our jurisdiction: TIA General Manager Tiwari

Published On: March 12, 2024 04:04 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, March 12: The Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) Administration has stated that customs inspection and controlling gold smuggling do not fall within the jurisdiction of the Airport Civil Aviation Office.

The TIA Civil Aviation Office published a statement on Monday and General Manager Pratap Babu Tiwari said that the responsibility of the Airport Office is only to improve the infrastructure.

On the criticism of the airport administration regarding the issue of gold smuggling from the airport, the administration said that there are 170 direct/indirect agencies involved in the airport, including more than 25 stakeholders.

Tiwari also said that the service delivery has improved after the office expanded the customs area in view of the increasing passenger traffic.

The airport administration has also reminded that the immigration and customs office, which is headed by a joint secretary, is operating according to its respective laws.

Tiwari said that the airport administration will only coordinate with such bodies that are not in the 'chain of command' of the airport chief and this work is being done.

Tiwari also mentioned that the government has recently made a new arrangement regarding visit visas for the convenience of passengers and the Department of Immigration has also arranged new manpower so that the passenger movement at the airport gets organized. He said that there is a problem of some delay in the examination due to the rush of passengers during peak hours.

Similarly, General Manager Tiwari also said that they are working in close coordination with Nepal Police to control the entry into the airport and security checkings.

He mentioned that the airport administration has also requested all the agencies for this, stating that no responsible agency should make any deficiency in the service delivery at the airport.

Tiwari also said that baggage handling is the responsibility of Nepal Airlines and attention is being drawn to make it more responsible. The airport administration also claimed that complaints related to baggage handling have been decreasing in recent days.