Pokhara, December 27

The construction of Pokhara International Airport has gained momentum. The China CAMC Engineering company has been awarded the contract for construction of the project.

According to the company’s public relations officer Krishna Chapagain, the company is working with an aim to complete 80 per cent of the earthwork before monsoon season.

“As per the plan, we will complete 80 per cent of the ground levelling work in five months before the onset of monsoon. Once it is completed, the rest of the work and construction of physical structures will start,” he informed.

He added that over 30 Chinese technicians and over 100 Nepali workers, including labourers and technicians, are at work now.

The company, around three weeks ago, had started the project organising a puja as per Chinese tradition. As per the contract, the company will complete the project and hand over the airport to the Nepal government by July 10 in 2021.

The company had signed the contract more than three and a half years ago. It will have to pay a certain amount of money in compensation to the government if it fails to meet the project deadline. A total of 3,735 ropanis land has been acquired for the airport in two phases. Former prime minister KP Sharma Oli had laid the foundation stone of the airport in April last year.

“As the company is under pressure to complete the project within the deadline, more equipment and technicians from China will arrive soon,” Chapagain said.