Pokhara Regional International Airport has expected to operate calibration flight by October end.
According to Airport source, the major hurdle for calibration flight was trees that needed to be cut down in nearby Rithepani hill and downsizing of hill itself by 40 metres. As process of cutting down trees have gain pace, airport has expected both tasks to be finished by October. Out of 600 trees, more than 70% trees have already been fell down and remaing work will be complete in 10 days, Binesh Munakarmi, project chief informed.
July 10 is the extended deadline for completion of project. Till now 98% of physical work is completed while 75% financial progress is attained. All 14 buildings including ATC tower, terminal, airport hanger and cargo have been already completed. The final major works of downsizing Rithepani hill and relocation of landfill site near to airport is still to be started however.
The airport is being constructed at a total cost of Rs 22 billion under soft loan of Exim Bank of China. The project began at 2010 to be completed in 4 years however government was able to find financial source only in 2016 A.D. Covid pandemic has further extended completion of project.
