Nepal airplane crash: Pokhara airport constructed by Chinese agency was inaugurated on Jan 1, 2023

The Pokhara Regional International Airport, the place a passenger airplane crashed in the present day, was inaugurated on January 1, 2023, by Nepal Prime Minister Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’. The airport was constructed with Chinese help.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 15, 2023 14:58 IST

Pokhara Regional International Airport (Photo: Twitter)

By India Today Web Desk: The Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA), the place a passenger airplane with 72 passengers onboard crashed on Sunday, was reportedly constructed with Chinese help. It is a part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation and was inaugurated on January 1, 2023. A demo of this plane was additionally performed on the inauguration day.

A Nepalese passenger airplane, together with 5 Indians and several other overseas nationals, onboard crashed in the present day whereas touchdown on the Pokhara airport. While touchdown on the Pokhara airport, the plane crashed on the financial institution of the Seti River between the previous airport and the brand new airport. There have been a complete of 68 passengers and 4 crew members onboard and the airplane purportedly crashed ten seconds earlier than the touchdown.

Last 12 months, Chinese overseas minister Wang Yi handed over the PRIA to then Nepal PM Sher Bahadur Deuba throughout a courtesy name held at Baluwatar. The airport has been constructed from mortgage given by China’s Exim Bank.

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POKHARA AIRPORT BUILT WITH CHINA’s HELP

The airport the place the tragedy happened was inaugurated merely two weeks again by Nepal Prime Minister Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ constructed with Chinese help in western Nepal’s vacationer hub of Pokhara. Deputy Prime and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel have been additionally current on the event.

The PRIA, a flagship challenge of Nepal-China Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation, was constructed with Chinese mortgage help, reported information company PTI. The authorities had signed a USD 215.96 million gentle mortgage settlement with China in March 2016 for the development of the brand new airport within the lake metropolis.

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“As the country’s third international airport, the airport has started operating in Pokhara from today,” the prime minister had stated.

“With the opening of this airport, Pokhara’s relationship with the international region has been established,” he added.

The Prime Minister additionally requested the Chinese authorities to facilitate the opening of border crossings with China and to help within the development of railway companies and different initiatives.

‘AIRPORT REFLECTS QUALITY OF CHINESE ENGNEERING’

Chinese Embassy Charge de Affaires Wang Xin had stated that the airport is designed and constructed as per Chinese requirements, which displays the top quality of Chinese engineering, and symbolises the nationwide honour of Nepal.

“Pokhara International Airport has been highly valued by the leaders of China and Nepal. The new airport will become a vivid practice and a powerful witness of working together to achieve common development and prosperity,” the Chinese envoy stated.

He stated that the arrival of Chinese vacationers would significantly contribute to Nepal’s tourism sector because the nation unveils ‘Tourism Decade 2023-2033.’

(With inputs from Sujeet Jha and company)

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Published On:

Jan 15, 2023