Kathmandu, December 3

Rehabilitation of the country’s sole international airport, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), has achieved 80 per cent progress so far.

After the completion of the first phase of the upgradation work, the second phase of rehabilitation is under way at the moment. Currently, the work of runway and taxiway rehabilitation, along with the construction of two new parking bays is ongoing.

As per Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), rehabilitation work of TIA is likely to be completed before the deadline of mid-June, 2020.

The TIA management has also made a commitment to complete the airport upgradation work by January 2020. Moreover, the construction of the international apron towards the southern part of the airport has also achieved 80 per cent work progress and will be completed within January.

Likewise, the runway extension towards the southern part of the airport and terminal building expansion are also being carried out rapidly. CAAN has set a deadline of January for both of these projects and TIA has claimed that except for small utility works, major construction activities will be completed within January.

Furthermore, the work to upgrade TIA as a boutique airport has also achieved 90 per cent progress so far. As stated by CAAN, exterior decorations of the international terminal building have already been completed.

Likewise the construction of a garden on the premises of the airport is close to completion.

Meanwhile, procedures for renovation of the domestic terminal building and canopy construction on the premises of the terminal are under way. According to CAAN, the work will be taken forth soon after the contractors are selected.

Besides, the airport is also being converted into an advertisement-free zone and also more than 50 wi-fi access points are being installed, especially in the waiting, departure and arrival areas, to facilitate internet access in the terminal zones.

Moreover, TIA also has plans to add one civil service point, where travellers who need services related to passport, visa or orientation will be provided so.

As per airport officials, both works related to upgradation as well as the boutique airport will be completed for the Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign. Earlier, Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai had announced to inaugurate boutique airport on January 1 along with the inauguration of VNY 2020 campaign.