Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun said on Tuesday that the government was making all out efforts to develop two major projects west seti Hydro Project and Regional International Airport in Pokhara -despite some emerging procedurral glitches.He added that there were slim chances of constructing the proposed airport at Chinnedanda Pokhara if the chinese investors backtracked from the west seti project. Pun made the remark during a meeting with a private sector delegation from Pokhara.
A 17 member team led by Krishan Mohan Shrestha , president of the pokhara Chamber of Commere and Industry is here to press the government to expedite construction of the regional international Airport in Pokhara., one of Nepals most popular toutist hubs. The delegation also met with prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and leaders of the thre mojor political parties on Tuesday.
Minister Pun said the government was committed to developing both projects as they are national priority projects said Shrestha.
A regional international airport in Pokhara has become an urgent need as an alternative to the congested Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathamandu , Pun said. He added that the airport would play an important role in strengthening Pokharas positon as a tourist centre.
Meanwhile P, Bhattarai assured the Pokhara delegation at a separate meeting that the airport was government prority project and that it was making all out efforts to develop it. According to Shrestha the PM said that construction fo the airport would be expedited be following all the legal norms. Developing a regional internationa airport in Pokhara is also the governments utmost priority the PM said.
The delegation also receive assurances that the governmetn would help it to acquire and additonal 500 ropanis of land to lengthen the runway . The governmet acquired over 3,106 ropanis of land in 1975 to build the airport in 1089 the government and the Japan International Cooperationa Agency conducted a detailed study.
A New survey has estimated that the airport will cost more the UN$ 180 million . According to the study the airport will have a runway 25,000 m long and 50 m wide a terminal and a cargo building. We have also requested the government to lengthen the runway to 3,000 m so that it can accmmodate large jets shrestha said.
Recently the Export Import(EXIM) Bank of china stated that the contractor for proposed airport in pokhara should be on its list of recommended companies to be eligible for soft loans.
A thre member chinese tam lad by Li Dan assistant general manager of the banks credit department put forward the condition to governmet representatives. The airport will be developed under an engineering procurement and construction ( EPC) contract the only allows chinese companies to participate in the bidding.
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