KALIKOT, August 7: Though the authorities earlier said that the airports in Karnali would be upgraded, the upgradation work has not been done yet. Talcha in Mugu, Simikot in Humla, Jufal in Dolpa, Kotwada in Kalikot and Jumla Airport were said to be in need of upgrades. The airports in Karnali are becoming unsafe due to lack of upgrading.
It has been 37 years since the airport construction started at Kotwada in Kalikot. The construction of the Kotwada Airport, which was started in May 1985, no one knows when it will be completed. The airplane was successfully landed on 11th February, 2017 even though the construction of the airport was not completed. The locals, who were hoping for a regular flight after the successful test flight, are now disappointed.
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Although the construction of other structures of the airport has been completed, the black topping has not yet started. According to the contract, the builders should have completed the airport by the end of the previous fiscal year, but it has not yet been completed.
The construction company took the contract for Rs 138.1 million for the construction of a 690 meters long and 60 meters wide runway and drains. According to the construction company, it could not work at the specified time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, Rs 390 million has been spent for the construction of the airport. The building and tower construction work has been completed. Although the Karnali Province government has given high priority to the construction of the unfinished airport, it has not been completed.
