By Our Correspondent
Bhairahawa, Oct. 19: Minister for Home Affairs Bal Krishna Khand said on Monday that the government was making meaningful efforts to bring the Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) in Bhairahawa into operation as soon as possible.
The second phase construction work at the airport would be expedited for its early operation, he added.
“The government has prepared an action plan for the operation of the airport and Integrated Check Post (ICP), and progress will be made as per the plan,” he said at a programme organised in Bhairahawa today.

He has reached his election constituency for the first time after assuming the post of the minister.
The airport was supposed to come into operation by the beginning of 2020 with the starting of the Visit Nepal Year 2020. It has been delayed by almost two years.
Speaking on another context, Minister Khand said that although people had given a mandate to the largest party (UML), it could not complete the five-year term due to intra-party conflict.

“President of the Nepali Congress, Sher Bahadur Deuba, was not ready to be the Prime Minister. The NC is blamed for rushing to be in the government and always wants to be in the ruling side even though it gets defeated in the election,” he said. “However, this time when party president Deuba was not ready to be the PM, the leaders of other parties had requested him to hold the post for the way out from the then political impasse,” he added.

Minister Khand also said that the 14th general convention of the party should be made successful. According to him, most of the representatives at the local levels and wards are elected unanimously. He stated that there was a need to be more accountable and serious to fulfill the responsibility and meet the challenges.
In this troubled time, attraction to the NC is increasing and the number of active members of the party has reached about 1 million, he said.
The Minister also took the opportunity to maintain that he was continuously making efforts for the development of Rupandehi district.

“I have discussed with the Finance Minister, Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission and officials of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies about the better management of the Belahiya border point.
There is a problem of parking at the Bhairahawa Customs Office which is troubling the service seekers. Short-term and long-term projects are being implemented to resolve it,” he said.