KATHMANDU: Lawmakers have strongly emphasized the need to bring Gautam Buddha and Pokhara International Airports into full operation.

Speaking at today’s meeting of the International Relations and Tourism Committee, they suggested that relevant agencies must introduce concrete action plans to maximize the utilization of these airports, which were built with investments worth billions. Some members of the committee also demanded an investigation into why both airports have failed to become fully operational.

Committee members Jagadish Kharel, Dr. Arjun Karki, Ganesh Karki, Ganesh Bahadur Bishwakarma, Taufiq Ahmad Khan, Renuka Kaucha, Ram Lama, Prashant Upreti, and Anushka Shrestha expressed deep concern over the current underutilization of the infrastructure.

Sumnima Udas, the Chairperson of the Committee, stated that both international airports must be managed and operated systematically, which would also help ease the heavy traffic congestion at Tribhuvan International Airport.