KATHMANDU, Nepal-The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) has finally admitted that
enduring capacity of runway at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) has ended thereby developing cracks and flakes.
Organizing a press conference in the capital Kathmandu on Monday, the Ministry said the potholes on TIA runway emerged due to landing heavy aeroplane beyond the runway’s capacity.
The Ministry’s statement came after the runway developed cracks and flakes for five times within two weeks.
The Ministry has also admitted that the runway could not be brought back to earlier shape immediately, adding that sharp change in weather has also worsening the runway problem.
‘The long term solution can be the construction of the proposed Gautam Buddha international airport in Bhairahawa as there is no immediate solution of such problem except repair, secretary at the Ministry Sushil Ghimire said.
On the occasion, Director General at the Civil Aviation Authority, Ratishchandra Lal Suman informed that the TIA airport can endure the airlines providing international service having the load weighing as much as 299 ton asking to use small aeroplanes. Director General Suman informed that the government could opt for hastening the construction works of the Gautam Buddha International Airport and repair the TIA runway by halting service for the time being.
According to him, Korean Airway, Etihad Airlines, Qatar Airways and Air Asia are the international service providers carrying more than 196 ton load.
The TIA brought to regular operation since 1950 with the assistance of USAID.
In the meantime, the Ministry has concluded that it would seek both short and long-term solution to the runway problem.
