Lumbini Province Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya has stressed the urgent need to strengthen diplomatic relations with foreign nations to ensure the regular operation of Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA). He said that building international confidence through diplomatic engagement is essential for sustaining scheduled international flights from the airport.
Addressing the 27th anniversary ceremony of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) held in Bhairahawa, CM Acharya underlined that the federal government must take immediate initiatives to operationalize the international airport as originally envisioned. He assured that the provincial government is fully prepared to partner with the federal government in making the airport functional on a regular basis.
Concern Over Delay in Federal Decisions
The Chief Minister expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of response from the federal government to proposals put forward by the provincial government. He stated that despite repeated discussions and negotiations aimed at resolving the challenges faced by local entrepreneurs and tourism stakeholders, no concrete outcomes have yet been achieved.
“We are ready to work in a result-oriented manner, but the absence of timely federal decisions has hindered progress,” Acharya remarked, adding that the continued delay is adversely affecting the local business community.
Appeal to Federal Authorities
Drawing the attention of the federal government and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, CM Acharya urged authorities to take immediate steps to ensure regular international flights from GBIA in line with the original objectives set during its construction.
He warned that prolonged inactivity of the airport could push local businesses toward financial collapse, emphasizing that the expansion of international diplomatic relations and trust-building measures is critical to preventing such an outcome.
Province Ready to Share Responsibilities
CM Acharya further stated that the provincial government is willing to shoulder additional responsibilities if necessary. He recalled that the province had proposed to establish a labor approval office within the region and to conduct health check-ups under provincial supervision to facilitate outbound labor services and improve airport utility. However, he noted that the lack of authorization from the federal government has prevented these initiatives from being implemented.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the regular operation of Gautam Buddha International Airport is vital for boosting tourism, creating employment, and strengthening the regional economy of Lumbini Province. He called for prompt federal action to transform the airport into a vibrant international aviation hub, as originally envisioned, to safeguard the livelihoods of local entrepreneurs and support long-term economic growth.
