Himalayan News Service

Bhairahawa, May 5:

The Gautam Buddha airport at Bhairahawa will be developed and expanded as a regional and international airport within three years. The airport, which will be upgraded in two phases, is targetted for completion by 2008.

The upgradation will cost Rs 293.5 million, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Buddhi Raj Bajracharya was told by Civil Aviation Authority technician Kamal KC at a programme held at the airport today. Bajracharya and his ministry’s secretary Sushil Jung Rana were on a study tour of the airport.

The technical work has already begun. The first phase covers expansion of the runway by 55 metres, enlargement of the terminal building from 1,500 sq metres to 3,500 sq metres, which is expected to end by 2006.

The second phase includes construction of a 2,250-metre runway, which is 1,520-metre at present. Around 42 bighas of land are required for the expansion of the airport and that will be aacquired soon. Once the second phase is complete in 2008, the Gautam Buddha airport will be developed and expanded in the form of a regional international airport, Rana told the media.

Bajracharya said that the construction of the Gautam Buddha airport had been delayed, and

the government was committed anyhow to complete it by 2008.

“Once the airport is operational, Lumbini will have the required overall development,” Bajracharya said.