By Nabin Sishir BK, Baglung, Mar. 9:The preparations for blacktopping of the runway at Balewa Airport, Baglung is at the final stage.

After the construction of physical infrastructures within the airport area neared completion, preparations have begun to blacktop the runway.

Chiranjibi Khadka, an engineer of the construction company at the airport, informed that the physical improvement of the airport was at 75 per cent.

"The construction of machinery wall, sub-base, base, wire fencing, and sewage within the airport premises has already completed. Only the blacktopping of the runway is yet to complete now," said Khadka.

He added that the blacktopping would begin from the second week of Chaitra. "As the current temperature is not enough to blacktop the runway, the works will begin from Chaitra after the temperature increases," said Khadka.

He added that the airport would be handed over to Civil Aviation Authority Nepal (CAAN) within the upcoming June.

Even though the construction was expected to complete by March this year, construction works were halted for a long time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, added engineer Khadka.

The government had concluded a contract agreement with Kasthamandap and Umadevi Company JV to complete the fencing and blacktopping work within March at Rs. 72 million. The contract has been extended by six months.

The runway is 600-meter long and 23-meter wide.

The airport, which was shut for over two and a half decades (26 years) had come into operation from March 23, 2018, with the efforts of local representatives.