By Rup Narayan Dhakal
Pokhara—Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda inaugurated the newly built Pokhara Regional International Airport amid a formal ceremony organized by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal on Sunday.
Addressing a mass gathering, PM Prachanda said that connectivity is an important factor for a landlocked country like Nepal. He also added that, after the inauguration of PIA and Gautam Buddha International Airport, the government will start the building process of Nijgadh International Airport in the Bara district of Nepal.
At the same time, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel said that there are some challenges to conducting the PIA smoothly but the government and private sector are capable of overcoming those challenges.
CAAN Director General Engineer Pradip Adhikari informed that the PIA has a 2500 m long runway with 45-meter width. It is the first airport in Nepal that has a passenger aerobridge facility. The $ 215.96 million airport was built by China CAMC Engineering and was funded by China EXIM Bank.
Shanker Raj Pathak who first revealed the dream of PIA was felicitated during the inaugural program. Tourism Secretary Suresh Adhikari, ICAO APAC- RD Mr. Tao Ma, Charge d’affaires on behalf of Chinese Embassy Mr. Wang Xin, CAMCE Vice President Mr. Lio Sheng, Gandaki Province Chief Minister Krishna Chandra Nepali Pokhrel and Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhanraj Acharya expressed their views during the inaugural ceremony held in the premises of PIA.
A rally marched to PIA before the ceremony that was welcomed by showering of flowers from choppers. The domestic operation of PIA has begun and the international services will be commenced soon.
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