Rajbiraj, March 18

Black-topping of Rajbiraj Airport has started gaining momentum after the government gave the final deadline for completing work by the next month.

Earlier, the contractors Kancha Ram Construction and Rautahat Construction had started black-topping of the airport on 23 November 2016 and were supposed to complete it by 15 December 2017.

However, they could not meet the deadline owing to various reasons and the government extended the deadline by four months.

Site In-charge of the contractors Suk Bahadur Tamang said they had missed the deadline due to strikes, landslides, floods and other technical reasons. He said they would conclude the project by mid-April and hand it over to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. A total Rs 303 million was allocated for completion of the task.

“A 1,500 metres long and 30 metres wide runway, a 60 metres wide and 90 metres long apron and a 105 metres long and 20 metres wide taxi way have already been gravelled. The sub base has also been constructed and a fence has been installed.

Likewise, 40 per cent of the total black-topping has been completed so far and the reaming task will be completed by mid-April,” claimed Tamang. The airport, which is located at Bishnupur Rural Municipality and the adjoining area of Rajbiraj, was inaugurated by the then Minister of Transportation Ganesh Man Singh in 1959.

The airport was in operation for few years. However, it has remained closed due to poor infrastructure since 2008.