Its been a couple of years since Pokhara International Airport has been constructed and is operational. This is Nepal’s third international airport. Even before Pokhara International Airport, Gautam Buddha International Airport was constructed and started operating. So presently, there are 3 International airports operating in Nepal.
However before few years only, Nepal had only one international airport, Tribhuvan International Airport. Now, commercial flights also operate from Pokhara Airport. Even though there are no regular flights, some charter flights are operating from the other two international airport but in a very less frequency. Domestic flights from Pokhara International Airport have started in full phase. Night flights are also operating using the resource of the Pokhara International Airport.
Initially, there was no plan for the construction of Pokhara International Airport. But now, with the project of developing other airports like Biratnagar, Nepalgunj, and Dhangadhi, land covering three thousand ropanis was already acquired for the construction of airport by 2032 BS. Eventually, there arose a need for an international airport in Pokhara. And with the Japanese aid, a study was conducted on the construction of the international airport in Pokhara.
In 2033 BS, the government took over 3,106 hectares of land because it was not in use for a long time. Due to increasing pressure from the public, on October 28, 2067, the Ministry of Finance proposed a $200 million assistance package to the Chinese government. It was later agreed upon.
During Prime Minister Hu Jintao’s visit to Nepal in 2068, cooperation with China was included in the list of support. After expressing intentions to develop in the EPC model, the Ministry of Finance approved the advancement of work in the EPC model in November 2068.
Based on this, on Jestha 8, 2071, a trade agreement was made between the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal and China’s CCECC. Then, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal obtained a loan assistance from China’s Exim Bank to build an airport in the EPC model at an estimated total cost of NPR 216 billion.
An agreement was reached between the Chinese and Nepali governments on Chaitra 8, 2072, to obtain a loan from China’s Exim Bank for construction expenses. During Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s visit to China in Chaitra of 2073, an agreement was reached.
After that, the foundation stone for the construction of the airport was laid by former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Baisakh 1, 2073, in wards 10 and 14 of Pokhara Metropolitan City.
If a loan of NPR 220 billion at an interest rate of 2% from China is secured, a subsidiary agreement was made between the government and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal on Jestha 23, 2073. According to the agreement, after completing the construction using the loan received by the government and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, only 2% interest will be paid for 7 years. It’s mentioned that after 7 years, 26 installments will be made within 13 years.
In 2012, the Trishuli III A project was approved in the EPC model by the Ministry of Finance. Afterward, the construction of Pokhara Airport got a green signal to start the construction. Until then, Nepal had no experience in working on the EPC model. There were no laws in place either. The idea of expanding Pokhara Airport was derived from the concept after the Trishuli Three A project was executed.
Four Chinese companies submitted proposals in the tender for the construction of Pokhara International Airport. However, in comparison to the estimated minimum cost, all proposals were more than double and in around around 35 million dollars cost of construction. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) had not included cement concrete runway or boarding aero bridges in the call of tenders. However, after the contracting company that submitted the minimum proposal added 6.59 million dollars, totaling to 21.59 million dollars, an agreement was reached.
The cost of the project, along with additional items, was finalized at 21.59 million dollars, which was deemed appropriate. An agreement was reached accordingly. After the agreement between the CAAN and the construction company CMC, the implementation was pending the loan agreement between the governments of Nepal and China.
Although a deal worth about 2.2 billion dollars was agreed upon, the loan agreement was yet to be finalized. It took two years for the loan agreement. At that time, the Ministry of Finance hesitated to increase the cost of the airport, citing it as high. Subsequently, the study was sent to Pulchowk Engineering College again.
The work began in 2016. The tender for airport construction was in 2012, the agreement in 2014, and the loan agreement in 2016. Only in 2017, we could accelerate the process. The work started on July 11, 2017. The project had taken a long time of five years to purchase all the land necessary.
The district administration office had set a price for land acquisition ranging from 2 million to a maximum of 6.4 million rupees. In 2017, according to the agreement made in 2014, a loan agreement was made with the Chinese Exim Bank. The construction work of the airport also began. The land acquisition work was also done in that order.
Now, the authority has further advanced the process to operate the airport under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. A study committee has been formed for operating the airport through the PPP model.
