PHALEBASH, PARBAT: The newly elected executive heads of the Kushma and Baglung municipalities on Sunday made a joint commitment to reopen the Balewa Airport which has remained shut for the past two decades.

At a felicitation programme organised by Kushma-Balewa Mechanised Bridge Ltd here, the newly elected chiefs noted that the airport could play an important role in Dhaulagiri's future, and pledged to take steps to regularly operate the airport in the next two years.

Kushma Municipality's Mayor Ram Chandra Joshi, spoke of the intimate relations existing between the residents of Balewa area of Baglung and Kushma Bazaar for hundreds of years, and vowed all possible support for its development.

On the occasion, Baglung Municipality's newly elected Mayor Janak Poudel, said he would make utmost effort in reopening the airport located within the municipality.

Kushma Municipality's Deputy Mayor Sita Sharma Lamichane said that regardless of her political affiliations, she would now remain committed to the people and work impartially.