By Ek Raj Giri
Pokhara, Nov 1: Gandaki Province government has formed Pokhara Regional International Airport Operation Facilitation Committee after the construction of physical infrastructure of the airport reached its final stage. A meeting of the Office of the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers has formed the committee under the coordination of the Minister for Tourism, Industry, Commerce and Supplies.

A Cabinet meeting held on October 25 had decided to form the committee. The members of the committee are Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City, Chief Secretary of Gandaki Province, Vice Chairman of Gandaki Policy and Planning Commission, Secretary of the province's Finance Ministry, Secretary of Ministry of Physical Infrastructure, Urban Development and Transport Management, and representative from Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chief of Regional International Airport Project.

The Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry, Commerce and Supply is appointed as the Member Secretary.
The Facilitation Committee will coordinate, facilitate and co-operate with the stakeholders in the context of preparation required to bring the airport into operation within the stipulated time, monitor the progress of physical construction, and take necessary initiatives to resolve the obstructions in the construction work.

Likewise, the committee also has the responsibility to make necessary coordination for the relocation of the landfill site near the airport as soon as possible as per the standards of the international airport.