KATHMANDU: The Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) will remain closed for 10 hours every day from Monday night to upgrade runway.

The TIA, which now operates for 22 hours a day, will be shut down for 10 hours for three months beginning tomorrow. From tomorrow, the TIA will operate from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm every day.

This is the first time in history that the TIA runway is being upgraded after its establishment, according to Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).

CAAN said it will take at least three months to wipe out the old blacktopping and put the new one.

According to Raj Kumar Chhetri, General Manager at the TIA, the repair continues from 10:00pm to 8:00am every day.

Chhetri informed that it would, however, not affect the regular flights.

The TIA has given the contract to a Chinese company for the upgrading at the cost of Rs 3.75 billion, excluding tax.