CAAN allocates Rs 821m for airport upgradation

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has allocated Rs 821 million budget for the upgradation of runways and other infrastructure, including installation of modern equipment in different domestic airport s.

This is the first time in several years that CAAN is injecting such a big amount to upgrade domestic airport s, most of  which lie in remote areas. Black-topping of runways has been started in Dolpa, Bajura, Khani Danda, Chaurjhari and Salle of Rukum, Faplu, Dang, Talchha at Mugu and Rumjhatar, according to the authority. Black-topping at airport s in Ramechhap, Bhojpur and Taplejung will begin soon.

“Although investment in remote airport s will not make an adequate return, it is the part of social responsibility,” said Suman Shrestha, deputy director general of CAAN.

Meanwhile, CAAN said upgradation works at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) will begin soon. The country’s sole international airport is being upgraded under the Asian Development Bank’s assistance of $80million—$70 million in loans and $10 million in grants. The project has been lingering since 2010.

Likewise, works at the much-delayed two regional airport s—Gautam Buddha Regional International Airport in Bhairahawa and Pokhara Regional International Airport—are likely to begin soon, CAAN said. The first phase of works at the Gautam Buddha Airport was originally planned to start in 2012.

However, officials said that lack of resource had been a major setback. Works at ADB-funded Gautam Buddha Airport project was halted following claims from a Korea-based consulting firm that the first phase of upgradation will cost $77 million, considerably higher than the CAAN’s initial estimates of $42 million.  

A previous study carried out by ADB four years ago had estimated $ 35 million for the first phase upgradation. “The ADB is positive to release additional fund. As soon as the fund is release, CAAN will revise the project commencement deadline,” Shrestha added.

Likewise, CAAN said that the government has given a go-ahead to continue with the old bidding process for the development of regional international airport in Pokhara and that it has

formally started necessary discussion with the project bidder.

CAAN has received a sum of $ 3.7 million from the aircraft operation fund of the defunct Air Transport Support Centre (ATSC).  A Cabinet meeting on Jan 25 had approved CAAN’s proposal to buy new aircraft for calibration purposes and to conduct inspections.

“We have received the amount and will begin process to procure aircraft for CAAN,” said CAAN Director  General Tri Ratna Manandhar. Meanwhile, the authority is planning to enforce passenger service fee on the air ticket from July 16.

At present, passengers are required to pay the service fee at theairport . “We have also planned to open aviation museum with the abandoned planes at TIA.” 

X-Cel Recreation Centre in Baluwatar

Always an audience ehh?

Location Location!

The very first team to play at the centre

Bringing the #action

Birds Eye ViewX-Cel Recreation Centre recently started operations in Baluwatar. The centre provides two fully equipped futsal courts. This is a great development for the young and active population of Kathmandu who are in desperate need for some green open space. After all, the novelty of spending the leisure time at a mall can quickly fade away. Such activity/outdoor centres should be opened up in more quantities and facilities targeting young children to working professionals. This recreation centre looks like it has nice future plans with swimming pool and a sauna in the offing.

Who Will Be A Gurkha IN CINEMAS

Nepali documentary film Who Will Be A Gurkha is currently being screened in selected cinemas across Nepal including QFX Cinemas in Kathmandu. The documentary which gives a deep look at one of the toughest recruitment process in the world has been previously screened at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam and the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival. The film also won the First Prize of $1500 US Dollars at the KIMFF in December, 2012. The film has been directed by Kesang Tseten.

Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi sworn-in as Prime Minister of Nepal

Finally to end the political deadlock and to give Nepali politics a new direction, the leaders of major political parties have agreed to form an interim election government under Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi. The UCPN-Maoist had purposed a Chief Justice led government few weeks earlier that invited lot of criticisms and constitutional hurdles. Now overcoming all those legal barriers by amendments in the constitutional aspects and despite protests from 22 of the parties, Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi has been sworn in as the chairman of the interim election government. Regmi who has now become the 36th Prime Minister of the country was sworn-in this morning amidst a function held at President’s office in Shital Niwas.

President Ram Baran Yadav administered the oath taken by Khil Raj Regmi during the ceremony. Two other ministers, Madhav Prasad Ghimire (Foreign Minister and Home Minister) and Hari Prasad Neupane (Minister for Law and Justice and Minister for Labour and Transport Management) were then sworn-in by Khil Raj Regmi at the same event.

UCPN-Maoist Chairman and former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, outgoing prime minister Baburam Bhattarai and senior government officials and heads of diplomatic missions and security agencies were also present at the function.

Khil Raj Regmi including the two other ministers has assumed their office starting from today shortly after their sworn-in and visits to the Martyr Memorial Park at Lainchaur to offer tribute to martyrs.

Mechi-Mahakali railway project report prepared

The government has kept the construction of the Mechi-Mahakali Railway in high priority considering the inevitability of the reliable development of roadway and railway for attaining long-term socio-economic prosperity in the country.

The Department of Railways says that the detailed project report (DPR) of the 135- kilometer Bardibas- Simara-Birgunj sector of the railway line has been completed in that connection.

Similarly, the Department has begun works on appointment of the consultant for and preparing the DPR of the 223-kilometre Simara-Butwal-Bhairahawa sector of the railway. It has also begun works on preparing the model of the railway.

Director General of the Department, Yogendra Rai, said that the government has moved ahead the works related to the Mechi-Mahakli Railway project by attaching high priority to it. The project would be constructed with the grant assistance of the Government of India.

The Department has already called for the Expression of Intent for the construction of the railway track.

Although the country presently has 53 kilometres of rail track, the narrow gauge trains are currently operational only on the 32-kilometres Janakpur-Jayanagar route.

It is said that this ambitious 1,318-kilometre Mechi-Mahakali Railway Project would cost at least Rs. 800 billion. As per the government plan, another 185-kilometre rail track would be constructed from Kathmandu to the tourist city Pokhara.

The government plans to construct the Mechi-Mahakali Railway Project under the public-private partnership model

ovt to select firm to conduct metro rail DPR within week

The government plans to select a firm to conduct a detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed Kathmandu Metro Railway Project within a week.

The Investment Board (IB) has been assigned to implement the project.

The Kathmandu Metro is one of the 14 mega projects which the government handed over to the IB on May 27.

According to the final feasibility report, the 77-km metro rail is estimated to cost US$ 3.88 billion (Rs 330 billion), and its construction is expected to take 10 years.

The feasibility report was prepared a year ago by a group of companies consisting of Chungsuk Engineering Company, Korea Transport Institution, Kunhwa Consulting and Engineering Company, Korea Rail Network Authority and two local companies, Building Design Authority and Environmental and Research Management Consultant.

As per the report, the metro will have five lines—four lines inside the Ring Road and one line of 27.35 km running around it. “The appointment of a consultant to carry out the DPR has been delayed,” said Radhesh Pant, CEO of the IB. “A concrete decision will be made within a week.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Physical Planning, Works and Transport Management said that the IB was preparing to assign Nepal Metro to conduct the DPR. Ministry secretary Tulsi Prashad Sitaula said that the IB was mulling giving Nepal Metro the job provided it comes in partnership with Korean companies as no other firm had shown interest in doing it. About three months ago, Nepal Metro had submitted a proposal to the IB to carry out the detailed study and build the metro railway in partnership with Korean companies.

The ministry said that it had requested the South Korean government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to conduct a DPR for the metro about five months ago. “However, neither of them has responded and no other firms have come forward to conduct the DPR. The DPR is expected to cost around US$ 6 million,” he said. “As Nepal Metro has offered to do it free of cost, it will be our first choice.”

Previously, IB chief Pant had also said that if Nepal Metro signs partnership agreements with an adequate number of Korean firms and shows the technical and financial capabilities required for this type of project, the IB could award it the contract. However, an IB source said that the contract was likely to be awarded through open competition and the selected firm would have to pay Nepal Metro the cost of the DPR.

Deepak Timilsina, chief executive officer of Nepal Metro, said that his company, if given the chance, would prepare the DPR working in a consortium of eight to 10 companies from Korea, Australia and Singapore. “Moreover, we are also looking for other companies to keep us prepared to undertake the project if we do get the contract.”

However, he refused to reveal the names of the companies that would be working in a consortium with his firm.

Grande International Hospital in Kathmandu

Kathmandu will soon welcome a new hospital by the name of Grande International in Dhapasi. The 14-storey hospital will have eight operation theatres and many added features including a wellness center, internet lounge, coffee shop, restaurants and so on. 

Tribhuvan Int’l Airport to get new domestic terminal next year

KATHMANDU, JAN 18 – Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) will likely get a new domestic terminal with improved and advanced facilities next year. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Posta Bahadur Bogati on Friday laid the foundation stone for the Rs 109-million domestic terminal to replace the old building.

The proposed disabled-friendly building will be erected 30 m to the west of the existing terminal, and construction is expected to take one year. Airport authorities said they had promised the contractor a bonus if the building is completed ahead of schedule.

According to Ratish Chandra Lal Suman, deputy director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the terminal building and the road and parking will occupy 4,959 sq m. The existing terminal, designed to handle 384 passengers per hour, was expanded and renovated in 1995. “Although the new airport building has been planned for a temporary period, it will provide double the facilities provided by the old terminal,” Suman said.

CAAN has been conducting the first phase of the TIA Master Plan 2026 with a loan and grant assistance of the Asian Development Bank. TIA has been planned to be expanded to 90,000 sq m from the present 36,000 sq m by 2028.

CAAN officials said that the new domestic terminal had been designed to function until 2028. As per the master plan, the present international terminal will be used to handle domestic flights.

CAAN has moved to improve the facilities after endless complaints from travellers about the poor state of the domestic terminal. Passengers and airlines too have been complaining that they have not been getting their money’s worth for the airport taxes they are paying.

CAAN is constructing the terminal with its own resources. It said that an area of 571 sq m area will be set aside for airline offices, restaurants and restrooms. There will be a separate domestic cargo handling area. “The existing building could no longer handle the huge volume of traffic,” said Suman.

As per TIA statistics, passenger movement at the domestic terminal jumped to 1.55 million in 2010 from 1 million in 2001. Passenger flow is projected to increase to 1.94 million by 2015. Aircraft movement has increased to 99,290 in 2010 from 63,159 in 2001. Domestic aircraft movement has been projected to rise to 115,800 by 2015.

CAAN director general Tri Ratna Manandhar said that focus on a second international airport had slowed down infrastructure development at TIA. “Though late, CAAN has realized that investment in airport infrastructure is vital for sustainability of the aviation industry in the country.”

Meanwhile, newly appointed tourism secretary Sushil Ghimire lauded CAAN’s initiative to make the new building disabled friendly and said that it should also consider extra facilities for the elderly.

Google Server in Nepal

Search engine giant Google Inc. in association with Nepal Telecom has installed its cache server in Nepal,reports Nagarik Daily. 

According to report, Google's cache server has been installed in Nepal Telecom office in Jawalakhel. “With the installation of Google cached server in Nepal now users can use Google services faster than before”, said NTC official. “After the installation of Google server, Internet bandwidth uses has been decreased”, added another official. 

Since cache server is a dedicated network server  that saves Web pages and other Internet content locally. Users request will be handled by Google cache server that was installed in Nepal Telecom Office. Now Nepali internet users can use Google Services such as Gmail, YouTube, Google Plus, Google Maps and several other Google products faster than before. A cache server both speeds up access to data and reduces demand on bandwidth.

According to report, the service is in testing phase and Google's engineer are here in Nepal to train NTC technicians and engineers. 

Thanks to Google and NTC. Hope now I can stream YouTube HD videos and can sign in to Gmail within a second.

Earthquake just hit Kathmandu!

Oooooo... Kathmandu(Nepal) was hit by Earthquake few minutes before.