Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
KATHMANDU: The government has handed over the leadership of Nepal’s civil aviation regulator to Joint Secretary Mukesh Dangol after the position of Director General at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) became vacant following corruption charges filed against suspended chief Pradip Adhikari.
The post fell vacant after the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) registered a case at the Special Court accusing Adhikari of misuse of authority. In response, the government moved swiftly to ensure continuity in the regulatory oversight of the country’s aviation sector—an area already under scrutiny due to rising safety concerns, audit requirements, and the need for compliance with international aviation standards.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, a decision made at the level of the Prime Minister and the line ministry assigned additional responsibility to Joint Secretary Dangol until further arrangements are made. The ministry said the move was necessary to avoid administrative vacuum at the aviation regulator, which oversees airport management, air safety, airworthiness, and navigation infrastructure across Nepal.
CAAN is currently handling several critical tasks, including modernisation of aviation infrastructure, compliance with ICAO safety protocols, ongoing negotiations related to Nepal’s aviation safety status, and preparations for upcoming reforms to restructure the authority.
Dangol’s appointment comes at a time when Nepal’s aviation governance is under pressure to improve safety performance, reduce bureaucratic delays, and strengthen transparency in regulatory decisions. The leadership transition is expected to have immediate implications for policy execution, oversight functions, and coordination with domestic and international aviation stakeholders.
The ministry has indicated that Dangol will serve in the dual role until the government finalizes a permanent appointment for the Director General of CAAN.
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