The deadline to complete the national pride project is July 10, 2021
RSS
POKHARA
The Pokhara Regional International Airport Project has completed 60 percent of construction work with one year left for the deadline. The China-based CAMC Engineering Company has the contract to implement the national pride project and it has been given a deadline to complete the project within July 10, 2021. The total project cost is Rs 22 billion.
The construction begun three years back and to date construction of 14 buildings, including the runway, internal and external terminal buildings and air traffic control tower have been completed. The overall physical progress so far is around 60 percent, according to project Chief Binesh Munkarmi.
Presently, finishing of terminal buildings, cementing of main entrance, construction of an approach route to buildings, cementing of car parking lot and construction of isolated parking are underway.
The construction work by Nepali and Chinese workers go on amidst the adversity caused by the COVID-19 crisis. ''Though we are not able to carry out work in a full swing, we at least continued working the project even during the lockdown,'' Munkarmi said. He informed that 100 Nepali workers and 250 Chinese are working on the project on a daily-basis.
Before the lockdown, 500 workers were hired for the project. However, some Chinese workers who went home to celebrate the New Year could not return due to the coronavirus which has had an impact on the project progress in the last six months.
Earlier, the target was to start test flights six months before the end of the schedule. It is expected to be completed with a revised deadline as almost all works in the civil category have been completed.
The China CAMC Engineering company was contracted for the project in May 2014 and construction work started in July 2017.
Construction materials stranded at Kolkata port have also arrived recently. Similarly, some construction materials and workers are stranded at the Keyrong border point.
Munakarmi said that they were consulting with the line ministry to resume work in full swing and bring in skilled workers. He added that some of the work could only be conducted by Chinese manpower therefore they have to wait for them.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the project contractor was working out to complete the project six months ahead of schedule.
ALSO READ: