Kavre, May 1

A team led by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari today conducted a field inspection of three prospective sites in Kavre for construction of a domestic airport.

A domestic airport in Kavre has been proposed to ease air traffic at Tribhuvan International Airport.

The team also comprising Minister of State for Information, Technology and Communication Gokul Banskota and representatives from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal visited Nagidanda in Banepa Municipality, Devisthan Thulichaur Danda in Dhulikhel Municipality and Chisapani Thulichaur in Dhulikhel.

The minister held interaction with locals to discuss the issue of proposed airport construction after field inspections.

“As TIA is facing a lot of pressure due to which flights are being held in the sky, the government is seeking to set up another domestic airport nearby,” the minister told locals at the interaction. “Among the three places visited, Nagidanda and Chisapani seem suitable sites, but the final decision will be taken after considering technical aspects,” he said, adding, the decision on the site would be taken within a fortnight.

Constructing the airport in Nagidanda will require the government to pay compensation for one-fourth of land to be appropriated for airport and relocate some 14 families, whereas all of the land in the proposed site in Chisapani belongs to the government, which will exempt it from paying any compensation and going through the hassles of relocating anyone in case the site is chosen.