Lekhnath(Pokhara), 17 Feb: Even though three years have passed since the Pokhara International Airport became operational, regular commercial international flights have not been able to take off.
Stakeholders have expressed concern, stating that this airport, built with a loan of approximately Rs 28 billion from the Export-Import Bank of China (Exim Bank of China), is not operating to its full capacity due to geopolitical reasons.
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has already filed a case in the Special Court against 55 individuals, including five former ministers and 10 former secretaries, claiming irregularities worth Rs 14 billion in the construction of this airport. In such a situation, emphasis has been placed on investigating the irregularities at the airport, taking action against the guilty, and adopting various measures for regular international flights.
In a program organized in Pokhara on Tuesday by the Center for Social Innovation and Foreign Policy (CESIF) on the topic ‘Pokhara International Airport: Current Situation and Future Roadmap,’ stakeholders pointed out that debt restructuring through diplomatic initiatives and opening Indian air routes for flights are alternatives for its sustainability.
CESIF’s Executive Chairman, Bijay Kant Karn, stated that the airport is in a severe structural crisis and suggested intensifying diplomatic efforts to prevent it from becoming a ‘white elephant.’ Researcher Surangana Rajyalaxmi Rana, pointing out the facts revealing serious technical errors and financial irregularities in the airport’s construction, emphasized the need to find the reasons why large aircraft have to bear a ‘load penalty.’
Pokhara Metropolitan City Chief, Dhanraj Acharya, objected to experts calling the airport a ‘white elephant’ and a ‘ghost airport.’ Mentioning that such negative terms insult Pokhara, he said, “This airport is a pride built by the people of Pokhara through 50 years of struggle, fasting, and donating their land, nurtured with their sweat.”
He insisted that the current busyness and the aspect of domestic flights at this airport are being deliberately hidden. Acharya argued that the reason international flights cannot commence is not due to airport staff or technical reasons, but geopolitical and diplomatic problems are responsible.
While agreeing that the alleged irregularities and corruption during the airport’s construction should be investigated, he expressed the view that questioning the very justification of the project under that pretext is wrong.
Former President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Anand Raj Mulmi, accused Nepal’s weak diplomacy and centralized mindset of being responsible for the airport not being able to operate. He analyzed that Pokhara is suffering because India refuses to give air routes for Mahendranagar and Nepalgunj, and China includes it in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project.
Mulmi said, “After buying Chinese aircraft, it has been 14 years since the European Union placed Nepal’s airspace on the blacklist, which has devastated our aviation sector.” President of the Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Gokarna Karki, expressed the view that this airport is the result of five decades of struggle and the dreams of the people of Pokhara.
Nepal Tourism Board Gandaki Chief, Maniram Lamichhane, stated that the airport has brought improvements for domestic travelers and claimed that if flights could be started from Indian cities like Lucknow, Delhi, and Dehradun, there would be sufficient passengers.
