The government is set to form a high-powered committee to investigate air accidents, according to Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey. During a media interaction today at the Ministry, Minister Pandey announced that the new committee would address the concerns raised by previous investigation reports on air accidents and offer recommendations for systemic improvements. The proposal has already been submitted to the Cabinet and will be made public soon.
Minister Pandey also shared that the committee would be led by a former Chief Judge of the Court of Appeal. He emphasized that the committee would review existing studies and conduct a thorough analysis to determine if there are underlying systemic issues in Nepal’s civil aviation sector. Based on this review, the committee will provide actionable recommendations to the government, which will be implemented effectively.
He added that this new study would build upon previous investigations, using them as references. “Individuals, ministers, and secretaries may change, but the responsibilities outlined in the reports remain constant. The government and the Ministry will ensure that the committee functions as a continuous body to carry out its duties without interruption,” he said.
Minister Pandey expressed confidence in delivering tangible results as he moves forward. He noted that in the two months since taking office, he has been deeply studying the Ministry’s policies and structures and is now prepared to take actions that will yield concrete outcomes. “I will work with a focus on legal and policy-based decisions, aiming for significant results,” Pandey stated.
He also highlighted the need for immediate reforms in certain areas while emphasizing long-term strategic improvements in others. Structural and managerial reforms will be initiated to make the Ministry’s departments more dynamic and effective.
Minister Pandey informed that detailed action plans for the effective operation of Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara International Airport are in the final stages. The action plan, approved by the Cabinet, is undergoing inter-ministerial discussions, and final touches are being added before implementation. He assured that issues concerning flight management, especially those arising from a shortage of aircraft, would be resolved through management improvements.
The Minister also revealed that a bill to divide the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal into a regulatory body and a service provider has been submitted to the Cabinet. He expressed confidence that the process for its approval would commence soon. Additionally, a draft of the new tourism policy has been sent to the Ministry of Finance for feedback, and the Tourism Act is in the process of being finalized.
Tourism State Minister Arun Kumar Chaudhary echoed the commitment to policy and structural reforms to ensure that the Ministry’s work becomes more result-oriented. He emphasized the need to strengthen the country’s air services and expand tourism infrastructure to promote high-quality and sustainable tourism.
Secretary Dr. Ganesh Prasad Pandey of the Ministry added that minor improvements alone would not suffice for Nepal Airlines. He highlighted the need for institutional and structural reforms, noting that the shortage of aircraft has hindered the effectiveness of flight services. The Ministry is actively working on comprehensive solutions to address these issues.
