KATHMANDU: The government has established a committee to study the operation of international airports in the country under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
During a cabinet meeting held today, the proposal to form a study committee, submitted by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, was approved.
Former Secretary Shankar Prasad Adhikari will serve as the coordinator of the five-member committee.
Other members include investment expert Ghanshyam Ojha, Chief of the Aviation Division of the Ministry, Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, Joint-Secretary of the Investment Board of Nepal, and Deputy-Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Dipendra Shrestha.
The committee’s mandate is to study the operation of Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa, and Pokhara International Airport in Pokhara under the PPP model at full capacity.
Additionally, the Ministry has formed a five-member committee to oversee contract-based employees of Nepal Airlines Corporation.
The committee, led by former Vice-Chairperson of the National Planning Commission Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri, includes management expert Tikaram Rai, the Director-General of the Tourism Department, and representatives from the Finance Ministry and Finance Department of Nepal Airlines Corporation. This committee has a deadline of 45 days.
Furthermore, the cabinet has decided that the Nepali Army should promptly provide land for the expansion of Bharatpur airport in Chitwan, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal should undertake the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure.
Additionally, the government has resolved to allocate land to the Nepali Army in Shaktikhor for a horse breeding center and bear all associated expenses.
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