Nepal Resumes GBIA Airport Construction Amid COVID-19

The Nepali government has somehow managed to resume the construction work of the Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) amid the rise in COVID-19 cases in the country.

According to the GBIA Project Chief Prabesh Adhikari, the construction work was resumed following the availability of the river-based construction materials with the support of the Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City.

The Metropolitan City is providing sand, pebbles and other river-based construction materials from the Tinau River.

In response, the project has resumed the construction of roads in the 10km periphery of the airport and concreting works in between terminal building and apron.

“However, the project still need 50,000 cubic meter river-based raw materials. We are also consulting with other local levels to provide such raw materials,” he added.

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Earlier, the COVID-19 pandemic has hindered the procurement of construction materials, leading to a halt of the GBIA project. Since then, the project is working on equipment installations.

So far, 90% of the construction works were completed. However, the project has already crossed the completion deadline of March 31, issued by the Nepali Government.

The obstruction in the supply of equipment from China due to the coronavirus pandemic has led to the delay in the completion of the airport.

The Nepal Government has yet to procure the lighting fixtures for runway and conveyor belts for baggage handling system from China.