Tribhuvan Airstrip Runway under Renovations at Midnight

By Samundra Ghimire

Kathmandu: Nepal’s only airstrip Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) runway is undergoing renovations at midnight since April 1, 2019.

The airport is closed from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m next morning for the last three months to enable ongoing renovations of the runway said the TIA officials. Nearly 250 Chinese and Nepali workers are engaged in the renovation work in the midnight when all residents of Kathmandu are in deep slumber.

According to information officer of Ministry for Culture, Tourism and Aviation Dipendra Shrestha, the renovation work is aimed at paving 300-meter runway every day, so as to enable the efficiency of the runway.

Mr. Shrestha also told that the preliminary renovation work was complete.  The whole renovation work is likely to be finished within the next fifteen days. Then the taxiway will be renovated.

The TIA airstrip is 3050 meters long and 46 meters wide and planes such as Twin otter to Airbus 330 can take flight from the airstrip. There are nine parking ways for international planes and 17 parking ways for domestic planes.

The 4.27 billion rupees renovation project has been assigned to China National Agro Technology International Engineering. Over four hundred flights take off from this airstrip daily. Likewise, 20 helicopter companies are flying their helicopters and 11 international air companies including three Nepali are having flights from this airstrip.

All Photos: Samundra Ghimire/HighlightsTourism