CAAN concludes feasibility study for construction of Phidim airport

Phidim, May 5

A feasibility study for the construction of the proposed Phidim airport concluded at Ranitar of Panchthar today.

This is the second time the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal carried out feasibility study for the construction of airport at Syaudanda of Ranitar. Construction of the airport was proposed at the site in 2010. The locals had been piling pressure for the construction of the airport after a survey team prepared a report stating that 800 metre runway could be constructed then.

The District Development Committees and lawmakers from the district also were exerting pressure on the government to expedite construction of the airport.

A team of technicians from Real Path Engineering Consultancy conducted the re-survey. Engineer Ojashwibabu Malla, a member of the survey team, said the 1,200 metre runway with a width of 30 metres could be constructed at the site. “If the runway is constructed as per the second survey, an airplane with 50 seat capacity also can land and take off at the airport comfortably,” said engineer Malla.

Another engineer Smaran Bhatta said they would submit the survey report to the CAAN within five months. “The survey shows that the airport can be constructed at the proposed site,” said the technician's team,which has estimated the cost of the project at Rs 3 billion.

If the airport was constructed as per the survey conducted in 2010, only Twin Otter could conduct flights, but if it is constructed as per the new survey an aircraft with 50 seat capacity can land and take off.

The locals had agreed to provide 350 ropani land free of cost for airport construction seven years ago.