KATHMANDU, Nov 16: Lawmakers Gagan Thapa and Sanjay Gautam from the Nepali Congress (NC) have urged the concerned authorities to take necessary steps in controlling the exorbitant increase in international airfares
In a meeting with Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Pandey, Secretary Ganesh Prasad Pandeya, officials of the Ministry, Director General of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Pradeep Adhikari, officials from the Nepal Airlines Corporation, and representatives from other concerned authorities at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation on Thursday, the lawmaker duo raised the issue of the abnormal hike in international airfare.
Taking to Facebook on Friday, lawmaker Thapa, who is a General Secretary of the NC, stated that the lawmaker duo raised concerns about the plight of the foreign workers due to the increased airfare.
Domestic airlines hike fuel surcharge
Due to the expansion of infrastructure at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the number of flights has decreased. Taking advantage of this situation, the ticketing agents have increased international airfare rates abnormally.
“The increase in airfare is having a direct impact on common people,” Thapa wrote, “We have heard the views of the Ministry in this regard and asked for clarification on what is being done to improve the situation.”
Lawmaker Thapa stated that although the government authorities assured there will be improvement in the airfare rates from December, the airfare will remain expensive even after that.
“As the air traffic and airfare rates of the country have been affected by the construction work at the airport, we have asked the concerned authorities to explore methods for reducing the construction period by making the construction works more effective,” lawmaker Thapa wrote on Facebook, “The ministry has expressed its commitment to address our concern, which is commendable.”
Thapa also stated in the social media post that the lawmaker duo urged the Ministry to schedule a meeting with all related agencies including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Labour, EPS, Nepal Airlines Corporation, and CAAN, to expedite coordination immediately in order to address the plight of migrant workers. Thapa claimed that Minister Pandey assured the lawmaker duo that he will move the process forward so that the work is done immediately.
