Balewa airport to reopen after 16 yrs

Balewa airport to reopen after 16 yrs
eKantipur, 22-May-08

Sixteen years after the closure of its service, Balewa Narayansthan Airport is going to reopen soon.

With the purpose of resuming operation, the Civil Aviation Authority has recently started reparations and renovation of the airport infrastructure.

Flights to the airport were stopped after the Baglung district was connected with the Pokhara-Baglung highway 16 years ago.

Balewa Airport, the oldest in Dhaulagiri zone, remained neglected after the flights stopped landing at the place. No one has taken care of the airport area. Its tower and three buildings within the airport premises are on the verge of collapse. The installed equipment have all become useless due to lack of care.

The airport spreads across 24 ropanis of land at Narayansthan VDC. The central authority has signed a contract deal for its restructure works. Aviation officials in Pokhara informed that works at the airport is in progress with a plan to bring it into operation soon.

The locals, who had been demanding resumption of the airport's operation, can now be found in a delightful mood. "Better late than never. The authorities have heard our voice and we are hopeful there will be revival of development works in this area," said Krishna Bahadur Khattri, former Chairman of Narayansthan VDC.

He stated that reopening of the air service will encourage tourists wanting to come to Kaligandaki river for rafting.

Following the decision to resume air service from the local airport, the district development committee has started construction of around 10-kilometers of road and building of a concrete bridge at Kathekhokha is in progress, according to local development officer Dirgha Narayan Poudel.