Kathmandu, June 16 (RSS): The Indian side has expressed its readiness to provide additional air routes to Nepal. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has shared that a meeting between Indian and Nepalese Civil aviation officials led to a positive response from the Indian side to Nepal’s request for additional air routes.
A press statement issued by CAAN has stated that both sides reached a conclusion regarding to it, though additional home work was essential in some issues. According to CAAN spokesperson Birendra Shrestha, the Indian side was ready to provide additional air routes after analyzing the aviation security.
A bilateral meeting that had began on June 14 concluded today after an agreement to providing two-way routes from and to Janakpur- Patna but the agreement will come into force after analyzing air security.
Similarly, the agreement will come into effect in Kathmandu-Mahendranagar-Delhi and Biratnagar-Kathmandu and Kathmandu-Janakpur routes as well. The flight security evaluation will be conducted before introducing the new air routes. The Indian sides have stated to make technical studies and security evaluation before providing the additional air routes to Nepal.
Nepal is to wait for some time to launch the service as International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)’s permission is required to materialize the agreements made between Nepal and India. Having only one air route to entry in Nepal has created difficulties to airlines as international flights can only enter Nepal via Simara air space.
Construction of Gautam Buddha airport in Bhairahawa is underway with next one year’s completion target. India’s reluctance to provide air routes has caused problems in take off and touchdown at the airport.
Planes flying from various foreign countries like India, Hong Kong, Thailand, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Singapore make an entry into Nepali land through Romiyo centre near Simara in Bara. They exit from Nepal via Bhairahawa, Bhimdattanagar, Simara, Janakpur and Biratnagar.
Expecting agreement for additional air routes, private airlines Buddha Air is preparing to operate Nepalgunj-New Delhi flights.
The government also has a plan to operate flights to Indian cities from Nepali airports like Biratnagar, Janakpur, Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi. For that additional air routes would be required. The 16-point joint statement released following the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Nepal had addressed the issue of additional air routes.
A meeting between Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Indian PM Modi had directed both sides to reach to a conclusion to this effect after consultations with technical teams from both countries.
—-