Nepalgunj, January 2:

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has initiated works to modernise and expand the Nepalgunj Airport, one of the busiest airports of the country.

Noting that the airport had been finding it difficult to park aircraft due to lack of a wider runway, Suresh Prasad Aajad, the chief of the Nepalgunj-based CAAN office, said at a programme organised here to mark the seventh anniversary of the CAAN here on Saturday: “The runway will be expanded.”

At present, only eight planes can be parked at the runway, he said, adding: “The plan is to make room for 13 planes.”

“A control tower equipped with modern technology will be constructed,” Ajad said, adding: “The hangar of the airport will also be repaired soon.”

Speaking at the programme, the chief district officer, Binod Kumar Adhikari, said: “Air service is essential for the Mid-western and far-western regions of the nation, which have been deprived of road networks.”

Dilli Ram Regmi of the Cargo Association said: “There is a lack of storeroom at the airport. Security is also lax.”