CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has pledged to expedite the works to upgrade the Meghauli Airport.
At an interaction programme organised by the Bharatpur Metropolitan City here on Saturday, the Maoist Centre Chairman marked the beginning of the survey for the airport's up-gradation, while expressing his confidence in the timely completion of the task.
On the occasion, the former PM said that expansion of Bharatpur Airport and up-gradation of Meghauli Airport along with runway blacktop of latter would yield good results in the development and tourism of Chitwan.
"Meghauli carries immense potential for tourism development. Besides the national parks, the cultures and costumes of indigenous communities have lured tourists. Cultures and traditions of Tharu, Darai and Kumal communities along with the national park carry immense potential and challenges for this area," according to Dahal, who is also the lawmaker of the Federal Parliament for the same constituency.
Likewise, he said discussions were ongoing to install new technology to protect human lives from wildlife and talks with the Prime Minister, Finance Minister and Forest and Environment Minister are being held for the same.
Similarly, he said the embankment on the Narayani River, the ring road, the auxiliary road along Bharatpur-Meghauli and other infrastructure projects of his priority for the development of the district.
Saying that construction of a bridge over the Golaghat has been halted due to UNESCO, Dahal said this issue was communicated to UNESCO in writing to this effect.
During the event, the Mayor of Bharatpur Metropolitan City Renu Dahal said works on Bharatpur and Meghauli airports have been forwarded and those projects would make huge contributions to the economic development of the metropolitan city.
The expansion of Bharatpur airport and the up-gradation of Meghauli airport are the two prioritized projects of Mayor Dahal since her first tenure.
On the occasion, Director General of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Pradip Adhikari said a tender notice would be issued after the completion of the survey works of Meghauli airport.
The airport was closed since 2067 BS after the government unveiled a policy that prevented hoteliers from running hotels inside the national park. Since then flights to and from Meghauli airport are not regular.
Located at a distance of 24 kilometres away from Bharatpur, the airport is spread over 23 bighas land plots and has 1,065 metres long runway.
Currently, the blacktop of the runway and management of the terminal is in the plan.
Meghauli also used to host International Elephant Polo Tournament in the past but the tournament is postponed at present.
Tourism entrepreneurs said there are 50 plus touristic hotels in Megauli and Jagatpur area in Chitwan.
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