KATHMANDU: Former finance minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel has urged the government not to delay the construction of Gautam Buddha international airport.

Opening the new building of industrial trade organization, Rupandehi, here Saturday, the former finance minister demanded the government to intensify the second phase of the construction of airport. Able construction company could be selected with international bidding to secure grant agreement with the Asian Development Bank, he suggested.

“The cancellation of development projects and curtailment of budget are anti-development activities,” he said, warning of civil protest if the second phase of construction of the Gautam Buddha international airport was stalled.

He reminded that the erstwhile government had put in high priority the airport.