PHIDIM: Feasibility study is being carried out for the proposed construction of airport in Phidim Municipality of Panchthar district.
Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is again carrying out a feasibility study to build the airport in Syau Danda, Ranitar in Phidim Municipality-14. The process for construction of airport in this area had begun since 2067 BS.
In 2067 BS, CAAN after conducting a survey had presented a report saying the construction of an airport was possible with 800-metre runway. The locals have been making constant efforts to materialise this initiative ever since.
In this backdrop, CAAN carried out the feasibility study again around third week of April for the airport construction with 1,200-metre runway. The study is being carried out by a team of technicians from Realpath Engineering Consultancy, through CAAN.
According to an engineer of the survey team, Ojaswi Babu Malla, the study has shown that there is possibility for constructing a runway of 1,200m length and 30m width in the said area. He further informed that if the runway is constructed as per the study, then 50-seater aircraft could land on and take off from the runway.
Another engineer Smaran Bhatta said, the feasibility study report would be submitted to CAAN within five months.
The team has also estimated Rs 3 billion as the tentative cost of constructing the airport. It has also been learnt that if the study produces a positive report, there could furthermore, be a detailed study for the same.
The locals had made an announcement that they would provide 350 ropani land free of cost for the airport construction in 2067 BS when it had first been thought to build the airport there. Secretary of the airport construction stakeholders committee Surya Adhikari said that if more land is required, then the locals are ready to provide another 100 ropani free of cost, and Rs 10,000 would be charged per ropani for more than that.
The locals are happy that the feasibility study has begun again. They believe that if all stakeholders of the district show interest, the construction works would move forward.