Kathmandu, 27 March: The Pokhara Regional International Airport being developed by Chinese construction company CAMCE has been handed over to Nepal on Saturday. The airport was handed over to Nepal by organising separate programmes in Kathmandu and Pokhara Airport  coinciding with the visist of State Councilor of the People’s Republic of China and Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi.

In Kathmandu, Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang handed over a symbolic key to Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Narayan Khadka at the presence of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. In Pokhara, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation Prem Bahadur Ale felicitated Chairman of CAMCE Lu Yan for completing the construction of airport.

Project Chief of the Pokhara Regional International Airport Binesh Munakarmi said the handover ceremony was organised after the completion of major construction works and installation. The airport was constructed with Rs 22 billion concessional loan and grant assistance of EXIM Bank of China. As high as 93 per cent of the physical works have been over and the construction company would continue its works until the final completion of the project. So far, runway, terminal building, air traffic control building, taxiway and other main works have been completed. The project which was estimated to complete by July 10, 2021 was extended for a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.