KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 22

The Ministry of Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) has stated that the progress in works related to domestic airports in the last four months has been satisfactory.

Publishing the progress report of the first quadrimester of the current fiscal year, MoCTCA has stated that even though the COVID-19 pandemic affected other sectors, works related to domestic airports were satisfactory.

A new terminal building of Janakpur airport has been inaugurated.

Constructed with an investment of Rs 420 million, the report states, the runway and parking bay have been widened in the new terminal building and the building is equipped with fire extinguishers and X-ray machine. According to the concept of developing the airport as a regional airport, new technology has been used in the new terminal building for the first time in Nepal.

Likewise, the procedure of land acquisition for Surkhet airport has been taken forth after receiving a go-ahead from the Cabinet.

Similarly, the report has stated that the ministry is under discussion for land acquisition to expand the Dang airport. Meanwhile, 70 per cent work of runway blacktopping of Kalikot airport has been completed so far, while 35 per cent of runway blacktopping at Gulmi airport has been finished. Under the plan of blacktopping the runways of almost all domestic airports, the works are being taken forth.

According to the report, the ministry has spent 15 per cent of its recurrent budget and 10 per cent of its allocated capital budget in the first four months of the current fiscal year. Of the total Rs 3.75 billion allocated for recurrent expenditure, the ministry has spent only Rs 573 million. Similarly, towards capital expenditure, against the allocation of Rs 1.90 billion, MoCTCA has spent Rs 193 million so far.

The ministry has stated that the financial progress has been affected due to the COVID-19. Because of the pandemic, almost all tourism activities have been halted, thus the ministry has been unable to spend its budget, states the report.