Butwal, October 30
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari claims the under-construction Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa of Rupandehi district will be open to international flights within next six months.
Adhikari claims most difficult tasks that require more human resources have reached the final phase and other tasks are also being carried out quickly.
The Minister made the statement after the project began blacktopping the runway on Tuesday morning.
The parking area of the airport has already been constructed and the construction of overhead tank, control tower, runway, international terminal and administrative building are at the final phase.
However, locals have complained of not getting compensation for the land that the project encroached. But, Minister Adhikari says the government has allocated Rs 9 billion to pay the compensation within this year.
The project has already missed its initial deadline in 2017. Rs 2.06 billion has been spent in the project so far.
