Political maneuvering stalls Surkhet Airport expansion plan

Surkhet, September 8 — Discussions about expanding Surkhet airport have stalled. An all-party meeting held in Decdember 2023, which included representatives from Birendranagar Municipality, the MP and Provincial Assembly members from Surkhet Constituency No. 2, political parties, and other stakeholders, agreed on six points to move forward with the expansion.

However, the issue has since been closed. Yamalal Kandel, elected as Chief Minister from Surkhet Constituency 2(1), has shown little initiative regarding the airport's expansion. While Kandel previously supported the project as an opposition member, he now appears disinterested in advancing it.

Nirajan Kafle, head of Surkhet Airport, told Ratopati that there has been no formal discussion or budget allocation for the expansion. He emphasized that expansion is necessary.

A new airport is planned for Ramghat in Bheriganga, and if it becomes operational, the existing airport will be transformed into a forest area. This plan, initiated by Congress MP Purna Bahadur Khadka, has faced local opposition. Critics argue that the new airport will decrease the ‘power’ of Birendranagar if the current airport is converted into a forest.

Although the province government included airport expansion in this year’s budget statement, no funds have been allocated. The budget states that necessary funds for the expansion and upgrading will be arranged in cooperation with the federal government.

Mohanmaya Dhakal, head of Birendranagar Municipality, remains committed to the airport expansion but laments a lack of cooperation from CM Kandel and the province government. The municipality has pledged to assist with site clearance if proper compensation is provided. Dhakal also said that while the municipality will not obstruct the new airport, they believe expanding the existing airport is a better option given current conditions.

The expansion plan, which would extend the runway by 300 meters, had started with land acquisition but was halted when Jeevan Bahadur Shahi became Chief Minister. This extension would affect approximately 900 households and Amarjyoti School in Birendranagar.

UML leader Purna Paudel, chairman of the school’s management committee, and other local stakeholders were influential in the area. The expansion was halted when Kandel, then in opposition, did not cooperate.

Birendranagar Municipality has since sought alternatives, writing to the provincial and federal ministries to explore other sites for a new airport. However, an all-party meeting in Birendranagar last December  concluded that expanding the current airport is the only viable option.

The work has not progressed as planned

The decision called for requesting the federal government, through the province government, to expand the area and develop the necessary infrastructure to ensure that the currently operating air service is safe and reliable.

Additionally, it was stated that a policy should be formulated to provide reasonable compensation to local residents for land and structures acquired during the expansion of Surkhet Airport. However, this work has not been undertaken.

Shree Amar Jyoti Model Secondary School, a prominent educational institution in Karnali Province, is located near the airport. To expedite the airport expansion, an agreement was expected with the provincial government to transfer the airport to a more suitable location.

Despite these decisions, no progress has been made in the past nine months; the decisions remain unimplemented.

What does the provincial government say?

Chief Minister Kandel is reportedly discussing the airport expansion issue at the ministerial level. Industry, Tourism, Forest, and Environment Minister Suresh Adhikari told Ratopati that discussions about expanding the airport are ongoing.

Minister Adhikari stated, "Chief Minister Kandel and the departmental ministers have recently discussed the need for airport expansion. It is imperative to expand the airport if no other options are available."

Currently, Buddha and Shree Air operate flights to this airport. The minister emphasized the need to develop and upgrade the airport's capacity for better service. However, he noted that federal assistance is required for this. The central government has not included funds for the expansion in this year's budget after previous expansion efforts were halted.