KATHMANDU: The International Relations and Tourism Committee of the House of Representatives continued discussions on the Nepal Air Services Authority Bill, 2024, with lawmakers stressing the need for policy clarity to ensure safer and more efficient air travel in the country.
During Thursday’s deliberations, multiple lawmakers who have registered amendment proposals echoed the need for synchronized progress on both the Civil Aviation Authority Bill and the Air Services Authority Bill, citing their interconnected nature.
Lawmaker Hitraj Pandey said the current draft of the bill lacks adequate focus on domestic production of skilled manpower and training facilities—elements he argued are essential for enhancing aviation standards. He also proposed that the line minister, rather than a bureaucratic secretary, should head the Authority’s board to ensure more effective oversight and systematization.
Former Minister for Tourism Yogesh Bhattarai raised alarm over the rising number of air crashes, attributing them primarily to human error and adverse weather conditions. “Nepal has 55 airports, but not all are in operation,” Bhattarai said, urging for strategic planning to determine the actual number of airports the country needs.
He said upgrading and modernizing existing airports should be prioritized over building new ones and called for stronger meteorological forecasting systems.
Sumana Shrestha pressed for the bill to provide clearer provisions on private sector investment in aviation. She also recommended establishing an independent investigation unit to look into aviation accidents, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Ramkrishna Yadav, meanwhile, called for a structural overhaul of Nepal’s air services sector, arguing that reforms must be both institutional and operational.
The committee is expected to continue clause-wise discussions before finalizing the bill for presentation in the House.
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