By Lalit Basel
Surkhet, Dec. 19: Expansion and upgradation works on Surkhet Airport runway have begun under the chairmanship of Chief Minister of Karnali State Mahendra Bahadur Shahi.
A meeting held with the stakeholders on Wednesday had decided to expand the existing 255-metre runway to 555 metres.
The meeting of the Federal Council of Ministers held last month had given the approval for Civil Aviation Authority Nepal (CAAN) to acquire 30 Bighas of land for the advancement of the airport, after which the state government decided to carry forward the expansion work.
In addition to the expansion, the meeting also decided to upgrade the airport to handle nighttime flights.
Likewise, the meeting has further decided to form an all-party committee under Karnali Provincial government to resolve the forthcoming problems during the acquisition procedure, along with the expansion work.
The meeting has urged the Chief District Officer to call the meeting of the evaluation committee to take the land acquisition procedures forward in full pace, and has decided that 50 per cent of the expenses incurred in providing compensation would be borne by Karnali state government and five per cent by Birendranagar Municipality, informed Dev Kumar Subedi, Mayor of Birendranagar Municipality, who was present in the meeting. He said, "The meeting concluded to complete the upgradation work as soon as possible.
Civil Aviation Authority, Surkhet, in its preliminary report, states that the runway of the airport will be expanded in the north while its southern side will be expanded for lighting.
"Land required for 460 meters expansion in the northern side, 200 meters in the southern side, and 160 meters for the breadth should be acquired," states the report.
The runway of Surkhet airport, constructed on 2023 BS, was 1,000 metres long. Six years later, it was expanded by 250 metres.