Bharatpur Airport in Chitwan has been ordered to clean up and beautify the airport amid complaint of foul smell emanating from the toilets and poor maintenance of the facilities. The inspection by the local authorities is said to have emerged after several tourists complained about the unhygienic conditions of the airport.
District Administered Inspects The Bharatpur Airport
The District Administration Office, Chitwan conducted the inspection at Bharatpur Airport after the persistent complaint by the passengers about the unsuitable condition of the airport. The grievances leveled against the airport management included complaints of foul smell from the airport toilets, poor cleaning and overall maintenance and beautification of the airport premises. The concerns were brought to the notice of the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Sobita Gautam, who represents Chitwan Constituency 3.
Following the complaints, Minister Gautam brought the issues of concern at the airport to the notice of Chief District Officer Ganesh Aryal and together with the district administration staff, inspected the airport. Upon inspection, they noticed the shortcomings and asked the airport management to improve the sanitation and overall condition of the airport.
Bharatpur Airport Authority Asked To Improve Sanitation
Chief District Officer Aryal said airport chief Deepak B.K. had been asked to better the condition of the airport premises following the inspection after the authorities found weakness in cleaning and maintenance of the airport. He said they had also raised concern over the general condition of the airport infrastructure and problems with the airport administrative bodies. However, the airport authority has pledged to address the issues and shortcomings that were raised against them during the course of inspection.
It was reported that the unpleasant smell from the airport toilets has been a persistent issue at the airport, which on one occasion emanated from the toilets and reached into the waiting bay for passengers whose planes were about to take off. In addition to that, the airport has had problems with the management of its parking bay. The inspection that was conducted last week is expected to ensure that the issues that have been a problem at the airport are addressed.
Bharatpur Airport Serves Tourists And Residents
Bharatpur Airport serves as one of the major gateways into Chitwan and facilitates the movement of people from and to the adjoining districts and the hill capitals of Nepal. Buddha Air operates the seven daily flights between the city and Kathmandu while about 800 passengers pass through the airport every day. It is against this backdrop that the local authorities have taken the issues that have been persistent at the airport seriously. The airport serves as the gateway for tourists who come to Chitwan to take part in wildlife safaris at Chitwan National Park.
Ensuring that there are well maintained facilities at the airport would therefore play a significant role in enhancing the travel experience of the tourists who visit the renowned park. Although the airport inspection did not target a specific improvement program for the development of tourism, it is expected that the improvements that are being made at the airport will enhance the overall experience of the tourists who use the airport to travel to Chitwan.
Airport Chief Vows To Make Bharatpur Airport Fly
Airport chief B.K. acknowledged that there were shortcomings at the airport and that he had vowed to improve the conditions of the airport following the inspection. B.K. added that they were working on the improvements that had been ordered by the district administration. He blamed the large traffic that uses the airport road that had been closed due to landslides, which creates a lot of pressure on the airport, for the problems that have been persistent at the airport.
The orders by the district administration have placed the responsibility on the airport authority to ensure that they maintain the minimum standards for the airport facilities. The improvements that will be made to the airport will go a long way in ensuring that the airport provides satisfactory services to the regular travelers and those who come to visit Chitwan’s tourism destinations.
