February 11, Kathmandu

The upgrade of Chaurjahari Airport in Rukum West has not been smooth for a long time. The airport, which was constructed in 2028 BS. Even though it was blacked out came into operation in 2070 BS, the service recipients have been in trouble after the regular service was not resumed by conducting test flights only.

Citizens of Rukum West, Jajarkot, and Salyan have to rely on vehicles after the airport was closed. Local Raju Lamichhane said that there were more problems for the patients with complex problems sent from Chaurjahari Hospital. He has complained that even though he expected more ships to come after the blackout, the opposite happened.

Locals are outraged that the Nepal Airlines Corporation, which used to fly two days a week before the airport was blacklisted, has stopped flights and the airport has become unusable as even the ships of private companies have not arrived. The Nepal Airlines Corporation has not even extended the term of the employees including the station chief Surendra Nepali and has already taken over the office in Chaurjahari.

Chief of Chaurajahari Municipality, Vishal Sharma, said that despite repeated requests from the ministry and stakeholders to keep the airport running smoothly, no hearing has been held. He said that the flight was stopped due to a lack of passengers and a lack of ships.

He claimed that there was no problem of not getting passengers if the ship was regular. Mayor Sharma said that he had already taken the goods even though the municipality had told him to pay the rent instead of taking the office goods.