KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Karnali Province for the development, renovation, and upgradation of Surkhet airport.
The MoU was signed on an understanding that both Karnali Province and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) will coordinate for the aforementioned works.
According to the ministry, the airport will be upgraded as a hub of the province. Under the project, the runway of the Surkhet airport will be extended by 1,500 meters.
Similarly, MoCTCA has also directed CAAN to proceed with the work of land acquisition and compensation distribution to extend the airport. CAAN has to identify the land and submit the detailed report to MoCTCA as soon as possible.
As per the agreement, of the total expenses incurred for the distribution of compensation for the land acquisition process, 50 per cent will be provided by the provincial government and the remaining 50 per cent by CAAN, while MoCTCA will take care of other related coordination activities.
The 50 per cent that Karnali Province needs to invest will be included from its annual budget while MoCTCA will provide the remaining 50 per cent to CAAN as a grant.