SATV, Kathmandu, July. 31 - Despite the completion of construction, Masinechaur Airport in Dolpa has yet to come into operation.
The airport, constructed in 2011, was blacktopped in 2015. Although all infrastructure work has been completed, not even a test flight has been conducted yet. Construction of the airport in Tripurasundari Municipality began in 2009. Masinechaur Airport was built as an alternative air transport facility for Dolpa after Juphal Airport.
Tripurasundari Municipality has said that the airport, despite being completed on time, has been neglected when it comes to operation. Local residents have expressed disappointment that they have been deprived of air services for years despite the completion of the airport.
Local resident Ram Bahadur Rokaya said they have been deprived of air services despite the construction of the airport.
The airport was brought into temporary operation for only one year while Juphal Airport was undergoing repairs. The structures built for the airport have now started to deteriorate.
Locals have expressed dissatisfaction that they are still forced to undertake arduous journeys despite having an airport in their locality. They have also complained that the concerned authorities have shown little interest in operating Masinechaur Airport despite repeated initiatives.
Although there have been repeated promises to operate the airport, no concrete progress has been made. However, Tripurasundari Municipality Deputy Mayor Devi Gharti said initiatives were being taken to bring the airport into operation.
Despite the millions of rupees invested in infrastructure such as Masinechaur Airport, most airports in Karnali Province remain non-operational.
There have also been repeated discussions and studies regarding the construction of an airport in Salyan. In 2021, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal conducted a feasibility study for an airport at four locations in Salyan.
The study covered Chandrapala in Shaarada Municipality-2, Pipalneta in Ward No. 5 and Kotbayale in Kalimati Rural Municipality-1.
However, the report of the study has not yet been made public.
On February 26, 2024, an aircraft landed at Suntharali Airport in Kotbada, Narharinath Rural Municipality-1, Kalikot, after 38 years. It was the second test flight to the airport. However, the airport is currently non-operational.
The first test flight was conducted in January 2017, when the runway had not yet been blacktopped.
After the runway was blacktopped in fiscal year 2021/22, the airport was inaugurated 38 years after its construction. However, regular flights have yet to begin, leaving local residents disappointed.
Discussions about constructing an airport in Dailekh have been going on for a long time.
A pre-feasibility study for an airport at Manchaur in Mahabu Rural Municipality-2 was conducted as early as 1991. However, the report of the study has yet to be made public. Although initiatives were launched to construct airports at various locations in three local levels of the district, no progress has been made.
Preliminary studies and discussions were held for airport construction at Dhitaha in Narayan Municipality, Manchaur in Mahabu Rural Municipality and Thadolekh in Dullu Municipality. However, the issue has now faded from public attention.
Similarly, plans to construct an airport in Jajarkot, another district of Karnali Province, have remained confined to discussions.
There has been talk of constructing an airport at Wardalekh in Bheri Municipality-1, but the issue has now faded from public attention. Deputy Mayor of Bheri Municipality Sita Jaisi said that the feasibility study for the proposed airport has not even begun.
