Among the selected companies, BDA, ERMC and Meh Consultant are the firms that have been providing consultancy services to different airport construction projects.
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Keshav Prasad Bimali, under secretary at MoTCA, told Republica that different consultants employed in project coordination unit and implementation unit will assess the technical, archeological and social aspects of the airport adjoining the birthplace of Lord Buddha.
The project estimated to cost $46.5 million is expected to complete within five years. OPEC Fund is making a loan investment of $15.5 million in the project, while Asian Development Bank (ADB) is chipping in with grant assistance worth $12 million. The government is arranging the remaining $6 million from state treasury.
Suman Shrestha, director of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), said the government would select local contractor for construction works.
CAAN and Lumbini Development Trust are the implementing partners of the project.
According to MoTCA sources, the selection process of consultants and contractors will complete within this year and the project will be completed by 2015. Donor agencies have already expressed their commitments to invest in the project.
Under the upgradation works, the government will expand the existing 1800m long runway to 2,600 meters and also construct apron and air ring-road.
“The loan and grant assistance would be executed from 2011,” Bimali said.
CAAN officials said the land acquisition works for the project would be completed by the first quarter of fiscal year 2010/2011.
The government recently allocated an additional Rs 100 million for land acquisition. Earlier, it had released Rs 160 million for the purpose.
Apart from upgradation works, the project will also promote co-operatives for the overall development of local community in 7 village development committees of Kapilvastu.
Scheduled flight to Rajbiraj resume
Tara Air has started scheduled flights to Rajbiraj Airport from Sunday. Ratish Chandralal Suman, engineer at CAAN, said Tara Air is scheduled to fly two times a week on Sundays and Wednesdays to Rajbiraj. Last month, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) had successfully conducted test flight at the airport which had remained closed for decades.
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