RAJBIRAJ: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari has stated that the government was focused on upgrading the existing domestic airports rather than constructing new ones.

Inaugurating the resumption of Rajbiraj Airport on Thursday, Minister Adhikari also requested Shree Airlines, which is set to operate regular flights from the airport, to offer regular service to the locals. "Operate the flights regularly with fair prices; government will encourage you," Minister Adhikari requested Shree's Managing Director Sudhir Mittal during the inauguration.

Minister Adhikari had arrived on the airlines Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft and jointly inaugurated the airport along with Federal Socialist Forum Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav and former Tourism Minister Jitendra Narayan Dev.

On the same occasion, Sanjeev Gautam, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal informed that Shree Airlines will operate regular flights within June 15.

On Wednesday, the airlines had successfully operated test flight with it's CRJ-200 aircraft at the airport which had been closing down frequently due to poor condition of the runway. Government invested Rs 300 million to upgrade the airport. A 1,500-metre-long and 30-metre-wide runway, 90-metre-long and 60-metre-wide apron and 110-metre-long and 20-metre-wide taxiway have already been blacktopped as part of the upgradation.

However, some works related to tower and terminal building are remaining and a team from CAAN has been working on it.