Rajbiraj, July 2

As regular Kathmandu-Rajbiraj flights have started following the black-topping of the runway at Rajbiraj Airport, passengers and locals are complaining about the poor condition of the road linking the airport.

A 50-seater aircraft of Shree Airlines is in operation on the Kathmandu-Rajbiraj route five days a week. Though the upgradation of the airport has hugely relieved the people, reaching Rajbiraj Airport has become an ordeal due to the dilapidated condition of the road. The road condition has further worsened after rainfall.

“The government spent millions to bring the airport into operation but it has not maintained the out-of-shape road linking the airport. Air passengers are facing a lot of problems due to it,” said local civil society chair Sukharam Yadav.

Gauri Shankar Sah of Rajbiraj, who flew to Rajbiraj from Kathmandu, said he was really depressed at seeing the condition of the road. “I was really excited to fly to my hometown from the capital. But all that excitement and joy was gone when I saw the condition of the road after reaching here,” he said. He wondered why the government had to shy away from spending a little more to upgrade the road, which was perhaps just a kilometre long.

The Civil Aviation Authority office Rajbiraj Chief Jyoti Prakash Sah, on his part, said a contractor had been selected for construction of the road from Gorgama of Bishnupur Rural Municipality to the airport.

The contractor company said it has yet to sign the contract. “Yes, we have been selected for construction of the road but we’ve not signed a contract yet. Starting any work without signing the contract is out of the question,” said Ramananda Yadav, the contractor.