LUMBINI, Nov 23: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey has said that the government is committed to continued operation of Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) to its full capacity even after the TIA runway expansion completes.
As businessmen expressed their doubts at an interaction program on the sustainable operation of the GBIA organized by Siddhartha Udyog Banijya Sangh on Saturday in Bhairahawa, Minister Pandey expressed his commitment to continue operating international flights to and from GBIA even after the TIA resumes regular operations upon completion of the runway expansion.
Calibration flights at GBIA from today
Minister Pandey said that since GBIA is located in the center of Nepal and is also close to Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, it offers convenience for air passengers. He also promised to visit the airport twice a month to ensure that the GBIA operates sustainably. Since culture and tourism are linked to Bhairahawa, the minister added, he was even considering setting up his liaison office at Bhairahawa.
“I will be returning to Bhairahawa every fortnight to oversee the airport operations and assist in the growth of Lumbini Development Trust (LDT),” he said, “We have decided to operate this airport as it is located right in the middle of Mechi-Mahakali highway, with the major tourist destinations of Lumbini and Pokhara located not very far from here.”
Minister Pandey termed Bhairahawa as the epicenter of tourism as the airport is operated nearby Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha. He said that a decision was made in July to establish essential offices related to the airport, including labor, visa, medical, and manpower companies. Minister Pandey also said that a Prime Minister-level meeting will be held after his return to Kathmandu to discuss the implementation modality.
He claimed that the culture of congratulating government officials for miniscule involvement in development works should be stopped. “I am shocked when you congratulate me now that the international flights have started from GBIA, because those congratulations might turn into a joke after five months,” Minister Pandey said. He assured that Pokhara International Airport will also be operational as soon as the Bhairahawa airport is fully operational.
Minister Pandey, who is also the chairman of the LDT, accepted the suggestion that the Trust should work at an accelerated pace and announced that it would improve its shortcomings in the coming days. He said that the dispute between the local hotels, the monastery and the locals has not created an environment for work and urged the private sector to cooperate in mediating the conflict.
