New Pokhara International Airport in Nepal Ready for Operation

A ceremony was recently held to announce completion of the new Pokhara International Airport in Nepal, which is expected to improve the country's civil aviation development, push forward its connectivity with the world and boost its tourism and social and economic growth.

The airport will also provide local people with more job opportunities once operational.

The project was contracted by China National Machinery Industry Corporation (Sinomach) in the Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) mode, which includes design, purchasing, engineering, equipment installation and adjustment.

As a four-dimensional international airport, the project was built to Chinese standards and meets requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The airport features 2,500 meters of runways and terminals with a building area of nearly 15,000 square meters. It is equipped with advanced communication, navigation and monitoring equipment and a high-end navigational lighting system.

Located in the southern foothills of the Himalayas, the Pokhara region is a popular tourist destination. The original airport was no longer able to meet the growing transportation demand and support local tourism development, justifying the new airport.

Once operational, the new airport is expected to be a key traffic hub of Nepal and all of South Asia. As a result of the Belt and Road, Initiative the project also shows the friendship of the Chinese and Nepalese people.

(Executive editor: Niu Yilin)