The under-construction Majhgau Airport in Mahendranagar has seen 1,300 meters of its runway blacktopped, according to Minraj Ojha, the Project Chief of Majhgau Airport.
Out of the total 1,525 meters planned for the runway, only 1,300 meters have been paved so far. The delay in acquiring 225 meters of land, which is under the control of the Nepalese Army assigned to protect Shuklaphanta National Park, led the construction company to blacktop only the available portion. Now that the Army has handed over the land, preparations are underway to complete the remaining runway construction.
Ojha said, “The Army had been using 250 meters of the runway land, but we have now received permission to start work there. There is no dispute regarding land acquisition anymore, so construction will begin in the next few days.” He added that 61 percent of the airport construction is complete, with plans to finish the runway paving work within the month of Ashar (mid-June to mid-July).
Following the completion of the first phase of the runway, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal will prepare to construct the terminal building as part of the second phase, Ojha stated. The Majhgau Airport project is being funded by local, provincial, and federal government bodies. The investment distribution is 15 percent from Bhimdattan Municipality, 10 percent from Dodhara Chandani Municipality, 25 percent from Sudurpaschim Province government, and 50 percent from the federal government.
Local residents expect the airport to significantly boost tourism once operational. Former Member of Parliament Dr. Deepak Prakash Bhatt expressed optimism that the airport will open up opportunities for tourists from India’s densely populated states like Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. These visitors could use the airport as a gateway to visit religious and tourist sites such as Pashupatinath, Muktinath, Lumbini, and Pokhara.
Dr. Bhatt said, “The tourism sector is creating increasing employment opportunities, and the airport will play an important role in the development of Kanchanpur district. Since Shuklaphanta is a promising tourist destination, having an operational airport here is essential.”
The airport is also expected to ease travel for tourists coming through the western border at Gaddachowki, facilitating easier entry for third-country visitors. Currently, tourists arriving here travel by road to destinations like Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Local resident Ganesh Joshi pointed out, “Many airports are built but remain non-operational. It’s not enough to just build the airport; operations and flight services must be ensured.” He added that a four-lane concrete bridge over the Mahakali River in Kanchanpur has already been completed and that construction of a dry port in Dodhara Chandani is underway, making the airport vital for better connectivity with the capital.
Historically, the airport was operational from 1977 (2034 BS) to 2000 (2057 BS) but was closed during the conflict period due to security reasons. In 2021 (2078 BS), a contract worth NPR 45.66 crore was signed with a construction company to rebuild the airport, with an initial timeline of three years. Although the deadline expired in January 2023 (Magh 10, 2079 BS), a one-year extension has been granted to complete the project.
