KATHMANDU, Feb 2: “Oh, how big it is!” Deepa Karki, 28, exclaimed, raising her eyebrows in excitement as she saw a Thai Airlines aircraft at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). Her probing eyes were fixed on the plane, which was about to take off.
“I have seen planes flying in the sky, which looked like birds; but I had never seen planes from such a close range,” said an elated Deepa.[break]
Deepa had arrived in the capital from Gaighat, headquarters of Udayapur district, to see off her husband Tika Karki, who flew off to Saudi Arabia a few days ago. After they reached the airport, the Kariki couple learnt that they could watch from a close range planes landing and taking off, if they paid just Rs 23 each.
Believe it or not, people like Deepa still throng TIA every day and pay just to catch a glimpse of the airplanes.
The viewers deck at the TIA.
Even 64 years after the start of aviation services in Nepal, people are still willing to spend their money to gawk at airplanes.
Aviation services in Nepal began in 1949 with the landing of a single-engine aircraft at Gaucharan. Tens of thousands of Nepalis have flown in planes since then. However, there are still many in the far-flung villages of Nepal who do not mind paying a little money to watch airplanes.
Kritika Enterprises, a company that won a contract for operating a visiting desk at TIA for people to come and see planes for a fee, has been providing its services for the last two months. The company had won the contract for a little over Rs 40 million.
Over 500 people on average visit the desk every day. Says Kamal Dangal, proprietor of the company, “Our customers are mostly those who come to receive and see off relatives, and those from outside the Valley, who barely get to see planes.”
A similar desk was in operation at TIA in the past also. Back then, another company had won the contract for nearly Rs 20 millions. The desk opened on July 5, 1998 and was active till October 19, 1998, when it was closed down owing to increasing threats from the then rebel Maoists.
“The visiting desk was closed as TIA officials felt it could pose a threat to airport security,” said Shyam Sundar Bhakta Shrestha, deputy manager of Corporate Division at TIA.
In those days, more than 1,000 people used to come to the visiting desk every day; and the fee was Rs 15 per person. “Today, only half that number come as the public is still unaware of the resumption of this service,” said Dangal. “I am sure the numbers will increase.”
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