Dipayal, October 29

Eleven years since its operation was temporarily suspended, Dipayal Airport, the oldest in the entire far-west region, is yet to resume flights, thanks to the apathy of the concerned authorities.

The local residents and the local chamber of commerce and industry have frequently urged the authorities to resume operation of the airport, but to no avail.

“We’ve submitted written requests to various prime ministers and ministers over the years but no one bothered to listen to us,” said Birendra Shah, former chairperson of the Doti Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Doti is one of the nine districts in the far-west region.

It was about three years ago when then Civil Aviation Minister Lokendra Bista Magar had flown to the Dipayal Airport to inaugurate the Doti Festival and, upon our request, had assured that the airport would resume operation from the same day. But no progress has been made towards that end so far,” said Shah.

The locals have not spared any opportunity to convey their concerns to leaders visiting the district. “Resumption of airport will give a fillip to the development of the entire region, but it is sad that no leader has taken any initiative to resume operation of the airport,” lamented Doti Chairperson of Hotel Entrepreneur Association Dipak Khadka. The operation of the airport had been suspended from 2061 BS.