KATHMANDU: The helipad currently located in the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) will now be shifted to Nalinchowk in Bhaktapur.
According to Jagannath Niraula, spokes of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), a contract agreement has been signed on Friday to build the necessary structure for the helipad in Nalinchowk. As per him, A helicopter stand will be built in an area of 33 ropani land in Nalinchowk.
CAAN has already awarded the contract to Uma & Co to construct helipad in Nalinchowk.
For the purpose, the civil aviation regulator has received Rs 250 million budget through the budget for current fiscal year. Out of this, Rs 100 million have been allocated for construction of terminal building and tower while Rs 150 million has been allocated for the construction of the helipad and other related infrastructures.
According to the CAAN, construction of the helipad will be completed within this fiscal year. After that, the flight/landing of helicopters which is currently taking place from TIA will take place from Nalinchowk of Bhaktapur.
CAAN says that this structure will help to reduce traffic pressure in TIA. Currently, helicopters are being parked near the remote parking way in TIA.
According to CAAN, the new helipad will have capacity to operate two dozen helicopters at once. At present, the authority has instructed to stop the helicopter at the airport which is considered as the base while taking the permission. Accordingly, some helicopter service provider companies have shifted their stops to Pokhara and Nepalgunj. In the case of Kathmandu, now the stop will become Nalinchok.
The new helipad will have fuel facility, emergency rescue equipment including firefighter, terminal for passengers, helicopter company office and structures with hangar where helicopter can be repaired.
Currently, 11 helicopter companies are registered and operating regularly in Nepal. Among them have 29 helicopters. Due to the non-operation of regular air services in remote areas, increasing tourist arrivals, increasing development activities in remote areas and increasing demand during disasters and emergency health problems, the helicopter business is flourishing in Nepal.